Senior Headman CHILWANA has told ZANIS that the children have left their homes and camped at the recently discovered gold mine, defying their parents’ counsel to go to school.

The traditional leader is worried that if nothing is done to stop illegal mining activities, many children from the surrounding communities will drop out of school for mining.

Senior Headman CHILWANA says government deployed police officers to guard the mine area but has questioned how illegal mining of gold has continued with impunity.

He said illegal miners and buyers of the precious stones, from surrounding communities and other districts, are still conducting activities around the mining sites against the government’s directive.

Meanwhile, Chibombo District Commissioner, LLOYD KAYEKA has warned that government will not tolerate any form of illegality at the gold mine.

Addressing scores of residents from around Chinyongola area, Mr KAYEKA said government has taken a serious step to stop illegal mining activities by deploying police officers in the area.