Mopani Copper Mines battles to vacate court injunction over access to Mufulira Black Mountain

Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) has launched a legal battle in the Lusaka High Court, seeking to overturn an interim injunction preventing it from accessing the disputed Mopani Copper Slag Dump, commonly known as the Mufulira Black Mountain, on the Copperbelt.

MCM asserted that it was the rightful owner—a claim strongly contested by the plaintiffs, identified as small-scale miners, Digi Wave Branding Limited, and others.

The mining giant argued that it has held legal ownership and surface rights over Slag Dump 1 since 2000, following an asset sale agreement with ZCCM Investment Holdings Limited.

Read more: Mopani Copper Mines licence area cleared, as six mining rights revoked by government

The agreement, dated March 31, 2000, reportedly included the transfer of subdivision E1 of farm No. 932 and subdivision K of farm No. 933 in Mufulira, effectively making MCM the legal proprietor of the slag dump.

Strengthening its claim, MCM stated that it has possessed a valid large-scale mining license over the area since 2000, which remains effective until 2050.

The company also alleged that the Ministry of Mines erroneously issued licenses to the plaintiffs, which were later revoked.

MCM’s senior legal officer, Makosa Zulu, argued that the plaintiffs misled the court when securing the interim injunction by failing to disclose crucial facts.

However, Digi Wave Branding Limited and its co-plaintiffs countered in their statement of claim, insisting that they hold legitimate exploration and artisanal mining licenses for Slag Dump No. 1.

They argued that these rights, granted by the Ministry of Mines, fall outside MCM’s large-scale mining jurisdiction and remain valid.

The small-scale miners are now seeking multiple court orders, including a declaration affirming their ownership of the licenses, compensation for damages incurred due to MCM’s refusal to grant them access, and legal costs.

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