Three people have been arrested for illegal manganese mining after being apprehended by police in Ndola’s Mushili Lupili neighborhood.
The alleged illegal miners have been named as 35-year-old Emmanuel Nsamba, 36-year-old co-driver Chiza Matimba, and 36-year-old driver Thompson Matimba.
Around 10:30 on Saturday morning, the trio was seen loading the vehicle with manganese that had been unlawfully mined.
“Brief facts are that on Saturday, March 4th, this year information was received to the effect that illegal miners were loading manganese onto a truck which they had illegally mined. Police officers rushed to the area where the illegal activity was being conducted and managed to arrest three people; the driver of the truck which was being loaded with manganese, a co driver and another person,” Copperbelt police commanding officer Peacewell Mweemba said.
They have since been taken in custody and charged with criminal trespass.
According to Mr. Mweemba, the truck, a Scania of the type with the registration numbers BAF 2470 and BAL 7302, owned by Shaann Carriers of Lusaka and discovered to be around a quarter filled with manganese, has been impounded.
