Metro

South African mob attacks ‘illegal” miners after eight women were raped during video shoot

Published

2 years ago

August 5, 2022

Hundreds of angry residents of a South African mining city of Krugersdorp, on Thursday, took out their anger on ‘illegal’ migrant miners and attacked them with machetes, golf clubs, iron rods and hammers following the gang rape of eight models during a musical video shoot.

The eight models were raped on July 28 when a television crew filming a music video at a mine dump in the township of West Village, was attacked by heavily armed men.

The mob which chanted war songs as they went about looking for the miners accused of committing rape and other crimes in the city, set fire to their camps in the Krugersdorp’s Kagiso township, barricaded roads with rocks and burned tyres during the protest against the miners’ presence.

Some of the miners were stripped naked and beaten by the residents, while others were chased out of their camps and beaten before being handed to over to the authorities.

On Tuesday, the South African police had charged 84 suspects to court following the gang rape which Police Minister Bheki Cele, called “shame of a nation.”

The police in a statement, said they were still analysing DNA evidence and investigating 32 counts of rape to ascertain the level of culpability of the suspects.

Cele said informal miners commonly known as “zama-zamas” were likely behind the shocking assault.

Krugersdorp, a mining city on the western edges of Johannesburg, is populated by armed gangs battling for control of abandoned shafts to exploit any remaining gold, with the trade believed to be dominated by immigrants who enter the country illegally from neighbouring countries like Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

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Metro

World Bank pledges $3b to support Zambia’s development goals

Published

13 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The World Bank Group has pledged to avail Zambia with approximately $3 billion to support the country’s development goals under the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2025-2029, with nearly half of the funds already disbursed.

World Bank Country Manager, Achim Fock, who made this known at the CPF launch at the Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka on Wednesday, outlined the global lender’s focus areas, which included enhancing jobs, human capital, and climate resilience.

Fock highlighted that $200 million had been approved to strengthen Zambia’s social protection programs, including the Refugee and Host Community Project.

He also expressed optimism for upcoming approvals, including the Climate and Economic Resilience Financing and the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector.

Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, who also spoke at the event, noted that 2.3 million Zambian households have so far benefited from social protection interventions such as the Cash for Work Programme, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives amid crises like the recent drought.

Musokotwane further reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives during times of crises such as the recent drought.

“More than two thirds of the Zambian population was affected by the drought. It was the government’s view that the first priority was to save lives,” Musokotwane stated.

Metro

Chinese mining giant CNMC set for $1.6 billion investment in Zambia

Published

1 day ago

November 13, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A Chinese mining giant, China Nonferrous Metal Mining Company (CNMC), has announced the investment of over $1.6 billion in Zambia, following successful discussions with President Hakainde Hichilema at the State House on Tuesday.

CNMC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wen Gang, who held the discussions with Hichilema along with the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Han Jing, confirmed the company’s commitment to furthering Zambia’s economic development.

“We are actively investing in critical sectors of Zambia’s economy,” Gang said after the meeting.

He noted that CNMC was currently pumping water from Shaft 28 at Luanshya Copper Mine, where 29.9 million cubic liters have been cleared as part of intensified dewatering efforts, adding that the company plans to inject an additional $200 million to develop a greenfield mine on the Copperbelt.

President Hichilema who welcomed CNMC’s commitment, highlighted the potential economic impact of the firm’s investment which will include job opportunities for Zambians.

“This $1.6billion investment, alongside advanced technology and expansion, will extend operations and create more jobs and opportunities for Zambians, especially in mining contracting and supply,” the President said.

He also expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government for their shared commitment to fostering growth and cooperation between the two countries.