Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe has denied that any death has occurred in the recent past at the Nkana Slag Dump 48 popularly known as the Black Mountain.
In a ministerial statement to Parliament on the measures government is taking in creating a balance between economic activities and safety of the miners at the slag dump, Mr Kabuswe says operation within the black mountain premises have been running safely since the commencement of the 30% youth empowerment cooperative scheme four months ago.
He says safety measures have been implemented to safeguard personnel working in the highly mechanized mining method which involves benching from top to down.
Mr Kabuswe says the mechanization has left the site with very minimal human activities which are mainly to supervise operations.
He however, states that while the black mountain has not recorded any fatal accident thus within the confines of the mining operations, it is regrettable to record accidents that have happened away from slag dump 48 premises by trucks delivering material to off takers which can be categorically described as road traffic accidents.
The Minister explains that the death have been brought about by youthful Kitwe residents with a tendency of illegally climbing on top of trucks in search of high-grade slag material.
He says to address this, measures of using a different route which passes through Mopani Savage Yard enroute to Kalulushi road which will not likely expose residents to loaded trucks for a long distance is under consideration.