Collum coal mine’s compensation to affected residents exposes government weaknesses

By Womba Kasela

In our next investigation, we uncover governmental failures in addressing long-standing issues of neglected safety, inadequate compensation, and the broader impacts of mining activities on vulnerable communities.

Mining operations at Collum Coal Mine have damaged homes in Chiyabi village, located in Sinazongwe district, southern Zambia. Residents’ pleas for help have gone unanswered, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and action.

In the video, Lazarous Sialukowa, the headman of Chiyabi village, told MakanDay that in 2015, when the houses started showing cracks, the mining company approached the affected residents, offering K100 or promises of employment in the mine as incentives to move.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2imFA1PQM1I