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Mines Minister and Minerals Minister Richard Musukwa
Mines Minister Richard Musukwa has directed that no blasting should be undertaken at the Black Mountain after the Mining Company left houses in Nkana West in Kitwe cracked due to explosives used in blasting the slag dump.
Mr. Musukwa has also directed the holder of the license at the site to take full control in terms of operation and direction and supervision of Mine operation as provided for under the Mines and Regulations Act.
Speaking at Joint Media briefing in Lusaka, Mr. Musukwa says the Mining Manager should ensure that statutory requirements are duly complied with and that no further blast must be undertaken without supervision of Director of Mines.
He has refuted earlier reports that the blast was undertaken by the Small Scale Miners themselves, saying the blast was undertaken by a professional competent company which was hired by Chapamo group of companies.
Mr. Musukwa says government is investigating all the circumstances that lead to the blast of the Black Mountain that left their houses cracked due to explosives used in blasting the slag dump.
The Mines Minister further revealed that holder of the license to take full responsibilities of repairing the damage of the facilities.
And Chapamo Chairman Nickdemus Kalobo has assured government that the company will not go away from the guidance that have been given to them under the Mines and Regulations Act.
Mr. Kalobo has since assured all the affected houses that Chapamo Minerals Processing Company will repair all the damages caused and has since engaged the company which was contracted to explain why they allows the blasts to take place.
And speaking earlier, Chapamo Minerals Processing Company Shareholder Shawe Fawazi has condemned what he termed as big mining companies to stop blaming them but should ensure that help the growth of the mining saying no one is immune to the accidents.