A suspected gold discovery near Kantolomba Cemetery in Ndola has triggered a gold rush, attracting over 1,000 people who have begun digging in the area despite warnings from authorities.
Residents including men, women and youths from Ndola, Kitwe, Mufumbwe and surrounding areas have set up makeshift mining spots about 25 metres from the cemetery, insisting they are not digging on actual graves.
Some of the miners claim they turned to prospecting to escape unemployment, arguing that they have only targeted what they believe to be “gold-rich soil” near the burial site and have not disturbed any graves.
However, questions remain on whether the material being extracted is genuinely gold.
Copperbelt Province Minister Elisha Matambo has confirmed receiving reports on the matter and says a government team will be dispatched to verify the claims. He emphasised that illegal mining will not be tolerated, regardless of the outcome of the investigation.
©️NKANI