Kasai provincial deputies plead for the opening of artisanal diamond mining zones
A group of provincial deputies from Kasai presented, Tuesday, September 2, a notebook containing several grievances, including the opening of artisanal diamond mining areas in this province in order to allow artisanal miners, commonly called diggers, to have spaces where they can exploit without constraints of the holders of mining squares.
The provincial deputy, Diallo Meba Kalumba, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, summed up DESKECO COM over the phone the content of their specifications.
“We presented on behalf of the population the grievances related to their unhealthy treatment by holders of mining titles. We demanded the complete list of holders of mining titles in good standing with the State, that of the fallen perimeters and the creation artisanal mining areas so that the population can exploit freely here instead of going to suffer in Angola, ”said MP Diallo Meba Kalumba.
As for the motivations of their initiative, Diallo Meba reveals that it is following the misery of the population and the decline in diamond production, especially in Tshikapa.
“We have noticed that many young people in our circles go to Angola where they are mistreated and suffered just because they want to go digging diamonds. In our country, all the diamond deposits have been attributed to individuals who do not have the means to exploit and who do not let the population exploit. These holders of mining squares do not pay anything to the public treasury with the consequence of the sharp drop in diamond production, “he said.
The deputy Meba indicates that their specifications were well received by the Deputy Minister of Mines, Lupetu, who revealed to them that many investors propose to come to Kasaï to exploit the diamonds.
“The vice-minister advised us to organize the population before the investors descend so that the diamond products benefit the population”, concludes Diallo Meba, adding that their group asked the vice-minister to plead with the government. for the establishment of a diamond cutter in Tshikapa.
Long renowned for its diamonds, the city of Tshikapa, capital of Kasai province, has lost its former splendor because of the policy of granting mining squares to individuals who condition access to artisanal miners in the sharing of the products of the exploitation or the payment of sums of money by way of guarantees to the owner. Consequently, the artisanal miners go to Angola illegally at the risk of their lives.
