Thousands of people from different parts of Zambia have descended on illegal gold mines deep in the Kaulasisi Forests in Lumezi District, Eastern Province.
Diamond Media Reporter, Samuel Khwawe, met gold miners in Kazembe Chiefdom and found thousands of them without safety attire.
Many claim high levels of poverty has forced them into gold mining in the sleepy district of Lumezi.
However, most miners have complained over lack of technological tools that would detect gold deposits.
Illegal miners are also made to pay one gram of gold to Chief Kazembe as royalty.
Authorities in Lumezi district say despite the mining activity in Kaulasisi forests being illegal, it has helped the local people fight hunger.
By Samuel Khwawe