Zambian authorities have seized military-grade firearms and mining equipment as part of a crackdown on illegal gold mining in the northwest, officials said.
Police and military personnel were deployed to the Kikonge goldfields in Mufumbwe District, where over 25,000 artisanal miners had converged, the government said. Authorities reported confiscating five firearms described as “military-grade,” more than 20 vehicles, over 100 scanning machines and gold-detecting devices.
The campaign was triggered after community leaders demanded action to halt unchecked mining activity that the government says has fuelled environmental damage, smuggling, and loss of state revenue . Clashes in recent days left two miners dead and injured five police officers during efforts to enforce the operation.
Minister of Internal Security Jack Mwiimbu, flanked by Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma and provincial officials, promised continued security deployments to support formal mineral operations. The defence ministry confirmed the area would remain cordoned off as licensed mining firms moved in .
President Hakainde Hichilema’s cabinet last week sanctioned military participation in three mining hotspots to restore law and deter illegal activity, officials said.
The drive underscores Zambia’s broader efforts to rein in artisanal mining, which the government says has eroded millions in revenue and harmed local ecosystems.