By MUNAMBEZA MUWANEI –
THE Government intends to reverse the sale of the dragliner, a mining excavating monster called ‘Zambian Queen’ found at the Maamba Collieries Limited plant in Sinazongwe because of its historical value.
Southern Province Permanent Secretary Sibanze Simuchoba said in Choma that the ‘Zambian Queen’ was sold during an auction last year, but that he would write to the Secretary to the Treasury to seek his indulgence over the sale.
Mr Simuchoba said the machinery was given a board of survey number and sold during an auction sale to a named bidder last year.
He said the mining equipment which was found in three countries around the world, at the time, had a lot of history attached to it and could not be sold.

SIMUCHOBA

“I am going to the write to the Secretary to the Treasury right away, so that the sale of the ‘Zambian Queen’ is rescinded, this mining equipment has a lot of history attached to it.
“This is in the national interest, as it should be preserved as part of our heritage which can be turned into a field museum” he said.
The machinery which took about 2 years to be assembled was able to turn and rotate and carry about 15 tonnes of coal in the bucket to the gate.
It was also able to dig bottom loads of coal, swing and move with its walking shoes while operational.
Last week the National Museum Board (NMB) announced its intention to declare the dragliner into a national monument.
NMB Director General Flexion Mizinga said the machinery could bring a lot of foreign exchange to the country once it was declared a national monument.
He described the equipment as a rare showpiece, because it was only found in three countries around the world.