Stop Promoting Lawlessness, Harry Kalaba’s Mining Statement Is Reckless

Tobbius Chilembo Hamunkoyo -LLB

When Harry Kalaba, a presidential aspirant, claimed that “you can’t be an illegal miner in your own country,” he made a deeply misleading and dangerous statement.

His words reflect a serious misunderstanding of the law and reveal poor leadership judgment.

Zambia is governed by the rule of law, not by emotion or personal entitlement. Under the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2015, anyone who engages in mining, whether a citizen or a foreigner, must obtain a valid mining license. Mining without such a license is illegal. Citizenship does not exempt anyone from this legal requirement.

Kalaba’s remarks are not only factually wrong but also irresponsible and reckless. As someone aspiring for the presidency, he should be the first to promote respect for the law.

Instead, he is encouraging Zambians to engage in unlawful mining activities, a stance that could promote disorder and undermine national development.

Kalaba’s position ignores the need for sustainable and equitable management of Zambia’s mineral wealth. Minerals are a national resource meant to benefit all citizens through lawful, regulated processes.

Government systems are in place to ensure that mining is done in a manner that supports community development, protects the environment, and contributes to the national treasury.

Encouraging people to mine without licenses disregards these systems and opens the door to corruption, exploitation, and misuse of our resources.

Harry Kalaba’s statement must be condemned in the strongest terms.

Zambia needs leaders who uphold the law, not those who bend it for political gain. Encouraging illegal mining on the basis of citizenship sets a terrible example and promotes lawlessness.

In a constitutional democracy, no one,not even the most patriotic citizen, is above the law.