Governance Advocate Backs Army Operation at Kikonge Mine, Warns Against Political Capture
By Rogan Labika,
A governance advocate has described the recent Zambia Army operation at the Kikonge Gold Mine in Mufumbwe District as a professional and necessary intervention to restore order, but has cautioned that the mine must not be allowed to fall into the hands of politically connected elites.
In a statement made available to Mafken News, Advocate for Building the Zambia We Need, Joseph Kangwa, commended the security wings for conducting the operation with discipline and professionalism.
However, Mr. Kangwa warned the government against using security operations as a smokescreen for political capture of mineral resources.
He cited the 2023 Sugilite mining scandal in Luapula Province, where a provincial minister was dismissed and later arrested over alleged illegal mining activities, as a reminder of how mineral discoveries can be exploited by those in power.
Mr. Kangwa urged the government to prioritize local communities and young people in the formalization of mining activities at Kikonge, stressing that the mineral wealth should remain people-centered and contribute meaningfully to local development.
