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Police have arrested eight illegal miners following a protest demanding access to a copper dump owned by Mopani Copper Mines.
The incident occurred on Thursday in Kitwe.
In a statement issued by Copperbelt Police Chief, Peacewell Mweemba, the eight suspects were apprehended during ongoing operations at Mopani Mine.
They have been charged with criminal trespass and are currently detained at Kalulushi Police Station.
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The arrested individuals included Mercy Sawila, 46, Catherine Chinvula, 24, and Mathews Mboloma, 39.
Others are Chipego Hamududu, 24, Brian Mulipa, 30, Innocent Changwe, 21, Kelvin Mwape, 28, and Gift Kateka, 37—all residents of Kitwe.
“Operations are still ongoing, and more arrests may follow,” Mweemba said.
The illegal miners had blocked Chibuluma Road, disrupting traffic.
A heavy police contingent was deployed to disperse the protesters, leading to the arrest of the eight, while several others remain at large.
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