Supposed illegal miners bring Chingola to standstill, as protests erupt over alleged sale of mining pits (video)

Chingola town on the Copperbelt was nearly brought to a standstill on Wednesday as a group of illegal miners, known as “jerabos,” protested the transfer of ownership of pits where they scavenge for copper ore.

Eyewitnesses reported that the protests began around noon as the miners took to the streets to oppose the sale of their mining pits to alleged Chinese firms.

The protesters, primarily from the Soweto and Kapisha areas, vandalized property, barricaded roads, and clashed with riot police along Chingola’s Kabundi Road.

In a voice note shared with the Zambia Monitor, Chingola Mayor, Johnson Kang’ombe, urged the youths to cease their violent protests and resolve the issue peacefully, reminding them that the matter was currently before the courts.

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“The incident is under investigation, and I want youths to wait for the outcome. Ring leaders should stop inciting the youth to protest,” said Kang’ombe.

Witnesses reported that the situation turned violent as miners threw rocks and debris, prompting police to respond with tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The rioting youths lamented that the continued ‘auctioning’ of mining pits was depriving them of their livelihoods.

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