• Government must set a platform of engagement for stakeholders that are being allowed to operate at the Black Mountain.
• They should be advised on the importance of adhering to safety.
• Empower people who get injured or lose lives does not benefit anybody.

Small Scale Miners Association of Zambia has called on government through the Mine Safety Department to increase sensitization levels to those that are accessing the Black Mountain for adherence to safety.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Association President Kunda Chani said government must urgently move in to provide the right safety guidance on how people that are operating at the Black Mountain should follow the standards and set procedures of mining at the site.
Mr. Chani stressed the need to set a platform of engagement between the stakeholders that are being allowed to operate at the slug dump, and advise them on the importance of adhering to safety in order to prevent injuries and fatal mine accidents.
“We need to set a platform of engagement between the stakeholders that are being allowed to operate at the black mountain, and advise them on the importance of adhering to safety. I am very confident that government will set up the right procedure.”
“I know for a fact that they are wearing complete PPE, but the way they are approaching the work site because of the way the structure of the black mountain is, that is what makes it unsafe to an extent that we can lose lives, we can record a lot of injuries. So our biggest appeal to government, particularly through the Mine Safety Department is to increase sensitization to the beneficiaries of the black mountain and this should be a priority,” Mr. Chani said.
He noted that empowering people who may end up getting injured or losing their lives does not benefit anyone, therefor it is important to prioritize sensitization on safety measures that must be undertaken.
“Government has gone the route of empowering the people, but when we empower people who get injured or lose lives, it does not benefit anybody. So as an Association we are making an earnest appeal through the Mine Safety Department, to say let’s increase our levels of sensitization to those that are accessing the Black Mountain for adherence to safety,” he added.