OVER 50,000 illegal miners mobilised in order to attack deployed police officers at the Kikonge gold mine site on July 3, 2025, triggering the violent confrontation that resulted in three deaths and twelve police injuries.
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This was revealed by Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Jack Mwiimbu in a ministerial statement issued in the national assembly yesterday.
Mwiimbu told the august house that the sheer number of illegal miners at the site posed an immediate threat to the lives of the officers.
He explained that law enforcement initially attempted to disperse the crowd using teargas and rubber bullets.
However, when the mob continued to charge, warning shots were fired.
“The mob became unruly and continued to attack the officers with offensive weapons,” Mwiimbu stated, detailing the escalating violence.
He confirmed that twelve police officers were injured in the clash, with two still hospitalised and ten discharged.
Tragically, three individuals who sustained gunshot wounds to the legs in an effort to disperse the mob later died, believed to be due to excessive bleeding.
Mwiimbu noted that over 100 lives have been lost through illegal mining activities across the country since 2023.
The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to prioritising community safety and security, vowing zero tolerance for criminal activity.
He affirmed that police will continue to work in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies to combat crime and ensure the safety of all communities.
By Lucy Phiri
Kalemba July 11, 2025
