Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma has announced that the military has been ordered to crush illegal gold mining across Zambia, saying President Hakainde Hichilema personally directed the operation in the national interest. The announcement, made this week and reported by LusakaTimes.com, signals that the era of foreigners and well-connected cadres looting our minerals with impunity is coming to an end.
Lufuma did not mince his words. If left unchecked, he warned, the illegal gold trade could give birth to armed militias and drag Zambia into anarchy. Our minerals belong to Zambians, and the soldiers are coming to take them back.
Military Ordered to Restore Sanity in the Gold Fields
The order came from the top. President Hichilema directed the Ministry of Defence to curb illegal mining, and the army has been handed the task of restoring order wherever the trade has taken root. This is not a police matter anymore; it is a matter of national survival.
"We're not going to tolerate illegal mining and so the military has been given the responsibility to bring sanity in the country," Lufuma said.
The Kabompo East lawmaker pointed to the bitter experience of other gold-rich nations. Countries blessed with minerals like gold, he said, spiralled into confusion because they let the trade grow unchecked. Zambia will not walk that road.
Lufuma's Starkest Warning: Militias in the Making
The minister's sharpest message was about what could crawl out of the pits if nothing is done. Illegal mining, he said, is a danger to the nation and could give birth to armed militias loyal to whoever controls the gold.
"We don't want to see a situation where militias and tribal chiefs are formed because of minerals which may later become a menace to society," he said.
That danger is already knocking at our door. Last week, rival factions of suspected United Party for National Development cadres fought running battles in Mpika District, Muchinga Province, over control of illegal gold mining sites. They left behind the shells of burnt-out vehicles and demolished makeshift shelters. This is what happens when Zambians let party muscle and foreign money carve up our own inheritance.
Foreign Hands Behind the Pits
Here is the part every Zambian should sit up and listen to. The Defence Minister said foreign elements are operating in the background and sponsoring illegal mining in the country. Our gold is being stolen from under our feet, and outsiders are financing the theft. This is exactly the kind of foreign interference that patriotic Zambians have warned about for years.
The ministry is not working alone. The Ministry of Defence has agreed with the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development that all forms of illegal mining will be dealt with, a joint position that takes the military's role beyond any single district or gold field. Zambia Monitor reported that government sought the Zambia Army's intervention in Mpika after reports of miners trapped at illegal sites and property destroyed, and reports on Substack confirmed the Ministry of Mines is pursuing closer collaboration with the army in the district.
80,000 Illegal Miners in Mufumbwe Alone
Lufuma put a number on the scale of the problem in North-Western Province. There are more than 80,000 illegal miners in Mufumbwe alone, he said, and most of them are not politically affiliated. That is 80,000 people digging up Zambia's wealth and sending the benefit who knows where, while ordinary Zambians see nothing.
Asked about the Mpika clashes and their links to known figures connected to the ruling party, Lufuma said the problem goes beyond party cadres. He described illegal mining as a national problem drawing in young people from all walks of life.
Political connections, the minister made clear, will offer no shelter once the operation moves in. There will be no sacred cows, and the army will carry out a thorough clean-up.
"Illegal mining leads to instability in the country and I personally will not tolerate that vice. That is why the military has been tasked to deal with this scourge," Lufuma said.
Familiar Ground for Our Soldiers
Mufumbwe is not new territory for the security forces. The military previously led a joint operation to clear illegal miners from the Kikonge gold fields in the district. The minister's latest remarks extend that mandate to illegal mining wherever it is found in Zambia.
The government is also moving on those who sit on mining rights without developing them. The Zambia Daily Mail reported that government has warned holders of dormant mining licences to secure investment partners or surrender their rights so capable investors can develop the country's mineral resources. Zambia's wealth must work for Zambians, full stop.
For the miners in Mufumbwe and the factions that clashed in Mpika, the message from the Ministry of Defence is direct. The President has issued the order, the military has the task, and in Lufuma's own words, the soldiers are coming.
FAQ
Why has Zambia deployed the military against illegal mining?
President Hakainde Hichilema directed the Ministry of Defence to crush illegal mining in the national interest. Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma warned the trade could give rise to armed militias and destabilize the country.
How many illegal miners are operating in Mufumbwe?
Lufuma said there are more than 80,000 illegal miners in Mufumbwe alone, most of them not politically affiliated.
What happened in Mpika District?
Last week, rival factions of suspected UPND cadres fought running battles over control of illegal gold mining sites, leaving burnt-out vehicles and demolished makeshift shelters behind.
Are foreigners involved in Zambia's illegal mining?
Yes. Defence Minister Lufuma said foreign elements are operating in the background and sponsoring illegal mining in the country.