By JOHN SAKALA
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) General Manager for Corporate Affairs Shapi Shachinda says the moving ground at Nchanga Open Pit is accelerating to collapse.
Mr Shachinda said the slough (caving in of ground) has negligibly continued to head to its fall though at a slow stage.
Speaking to The Independent Observer yesterday, Mr Shachinda said the mine will give a media update once the caving of ground at its Nchanga Open Pit finally collapses.
He said KCM will invite all media houses like it did earlier to give them update once the slough finally collapse.
He said at the moment everyone is waiting like a woman in labour waiting to deliver.
“Our geo-technical team has continued to monitor the movement of the ground and I can say that there is continued movement but we can’t predict on the actual day when the ground will collapse. All we know is that it will happen between July 2 and July 7,” he said.
The nearby communities of Nchanga North have pledged adherence to KCM safety guidelines following the looming disaster of caving in of the ground at Nchanga Open Pit.
They promised to cooperate with the mining firm’s call for them to stay away from the prohibited area even when they have gardens within the restricted area.
Mary Tembo one of the residents who thanked KCM for quickly alerting them on the looming disaster said they will ensure that they attend to their children.
Ms Tembo said children in the area innocently like going to play in the ‘no go area zone.’
Another resident James Zulu called on the mining company to quickly start relocating the residents before it is too late.
But KCM General Manager for Corporate Affairs Shapi Shachinda reiterated that the slough will not affect houses nearby.
However, he said KCM has a relocation program on card for about 80 houses which is a separate project.
And Mines Permanent Secretary Barnaby Mulenga said the Mine Safety Department (MSD) has been monitoring the Nchanga Open Pit.
Mr Mulenga said the MSD monitors both operational and decommissioned mines to ensure that there is safety.
He said a Mine Safety Inspector has attached at KCM and is stationed at KCM until the moving ground collapse.
Mines Minister Richard Musukwa will have a briefing today July 6, 2020 at 11:00 hrs at KCM head office.
