Police in Mansa arrest, charge 19 people over sugilite

As the Zambia Police in Mansa arrest and charge several people over the Luapula sugilite scandal, we are again reminded that we need a radical change of mindset to develop Zambia.

By Kholiwe Miti.

Lusaka, July 8 – The Zambia Police Service in Mansa has arrested and jointly charged 19 people for illegal mining of sugilite.

According to Police Spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, the 19 have been charged with two offences of carrying out mining operations without a licence, and conveying property reasonably suspected to have been unlawfully acquired.

It’s alleged that between January 4 and February 13, 2023 the accused mined 23 tonnes of sugilite mineral ore without a licence in Muombe Mine area of Chembe District in Luapula Province, and later conveyed it from Chembe to Kapiri Mposhi District.

The 19 include former Luapula Province Minister, Derricky Chilundika, Northern Province Police Commissioner Gloria Mulele, Luapula UPND Youth Chairperson, Nelson Kalembwe, Provincial Youth Leader, Jones Nkandu, acting Provincial UPND Chairperson, Jerry Bwalya, Provincial Youth Secretary, Obbrey Simauki, former Deputy Permanent Secretary, Royd Mwansa, former Nchelenge District Commissioner, Robert Mutepuka, and his former Mwansabombwe counterpart, Morton Sikazwe.

Also Read: We don’t have a capable leader to mobilise national wealth. – Nawakwi.

“It would be a waste of time to get the debt restructuring without creating the necessary production capacity in the country to repay the debts when the repayments are due!”

Others are two Police Constables, Sydney Mulongwe and Simon Chiwala, Police Chief Inspector, Masauso Jere, Police Sergeant, Mulenga Chilufya, Police Superintendent, Joshua Chimuli, two Mansa businessmen Justin Chisha and Kelvin Mulenga, Mwense Council Chairperson, Stephen Chikota, and two other businessmen, Kelvin Mukuka and Kingston Chingu.