Acting Chingola District Commissioner Stephen Moonze has called for calm among small-scale miners that have not yet been paid their share of the USD 4million given to them by government to enable them start formal mining activities following their removal from Senseli Mine.

‎Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Chingola, Mr. Moonze said the process of paying the individual miners was underway and everyone is supposed to be paid by Friday this week.

‎He said there was no need for anyone to demonstrate or complain that they have been left out when the process of paying them was under way.

‎He, however, condemned some small-scale mines from other mine dumpsites that stormed his office on Monday this week demanding to be included on the list of miners supposed to be paid.

‎He explained that only those that were mining from Senseli Mine are eligible to be paid.

‎” I want to take this opportunity to clarify that leaders for the small scale miners have already received their USD4million and they are currently in the process of transferring the funds into the accounts of the individual miners and we have given ourselves to finish this process by Friday this week, and to those from other dumpsites that are demanding to be paid also should stay away because they are not eligible,” Mr Moonze said.

‎And one of the leaders of the small-scale miners Mulendi Ng’ambo also confirmed that the leaders’ committee together with government have already started paying the funds to their members.

‎Mr. Ng’ambo also clarified that the money is strictly for those who were operating from Senseli Mine.

‎” What is happening is that those from other dumpsites even from other towns are demanding to be paid also, but this is only meant for those who were operating from Senseli Mine, it seems there is some political hand that is pushing them to demand for payments also,” Mr Ng ’ambo said.

‎And another leader, Micheal Mushota urged the former Senseli miners to be patient as the process of paying them is also underway.

‎Last weekend, government paid USD  4million to four thousand small scale miners who we removed from Senseli Mine following rampant accidents at the site.

‎Government is yet to identify a site where these miners will start operating from.

‎Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe graced the ceremonial handover of the funds to the small-scale miners in Chingola.