By CHILA NAMAIKO –

• DISASTER Management and Mitigation Unit officials (left) distribute mealie-meal to displaced families in Nkandabwe area in Sinazongwe following a tremor on New Year’s Day. (Inset) Tents being mounted for the displaced families. Picture by CHILA NAMAIKO

FOURTEEN families displaced by a sinking surface at Nkandabwe Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe District of Southern Province yesterday received relief food from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU).
The incident occurred after a tremor on New Year’s Day that left cracks and led to the collapse of some houses and other infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the mine management has assured of compensating the victims when the evaluation process of the affected area is concluded.
A total of 50 people from 14 households surrounding the mine have had their houses affected due to weak pillars of the mine tunnels that were left during the mining activities some years ago.
The victims, who included elderly persons, were currently squatting on a piece of land within the mine area in temporary tents provided by the DMMU before a lasting solution was found.
Following the calamity, President Edgar Lungu, on Tuesday, directed the Office of the Vice-President to immediately dispatch relief food to the victims.
Handing over the 150 by 50 kilogramme bags of relief maize to the affected families, District Commissioner Protacio Mulenga said Government was concerned with the welfare of the victims.
“President Lungu is concerned about you (affected families) and the Patriotic Front Government will ensure that nobody dies of hunger; we are doing everything possible to help you,” he said.
The victims abandoned their houses which were almost collapsing and sinking together with their property, including livestock.
Mine manager Ketson Munthali said the mining firm had engaged the buildings department to carry out a thorough evaluation process on the affected area and families which would lead to the compensation exercise.
He said although mining areas were susceptible to such calamities, the company was committed to compensating the affected households.
DMMU provincial coordinator Edwin Peteli said five tonnes of relief maize were allocated to the affected families, adding that each family would be given three by 50 kilogramme bags of relief maize.
The victims praised President Lungu and their area member of Parliament Richwell Siamunene for the food supplies and shelter. (See pictures on Page 2)