Hichilema visits mine tragedy site, calls for patience, hands out K10,000 each to grieving families

President Hakainde Hichilema on Tuesday visited the mine site in Chingola where more than 30 illegal miners are reported to be currently trapped.

Speaking when he addressed residents, President Hichilema said the government was hopeful that the miners would be found alive.

Read more: Developing Story: Search for trapped miners reaches day four, Nalumango calls for patience

“Your government is committed to see to it that the search for trapped miners are speed up as the people runs out of patience,” he told Chingola residents who gathered at the entrance to the copper dumpsite.

President Hichilema who started with the tour of the mine site before addressing the residents said food supply and equipment would continue ‘pouring’ in to expedite the rescue works .

He later, before leaving for Lusak, met families of the trapped miners as he handed over K10,000 to each of the more than 30 families.

The President had a large entourage which included Ambrose Lufuma, the Defence Minister, Mines and Mineral Development Minister, Paul Kabuswe, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Chipoka Mulenga, Information and Media Minister Cornelius Mweetwa and Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo.

Meanwhile, the search for trapped miners, despite intensfied search, has entered day six, causing even more panic among the families.

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