KOLOBOSI Tailings Dam Association (KTDA) has expressed grave concerns on the engagement of ex-militants to provide security during the consultations leading to possible rehabilitation of Gold Ridge mine.

In a statement, the land-owning body of the Gold Ridge Tailings Storage Facility, said it is “gravely concerned that GRML and Gold Ridge Community Investment Limited (GCIL) is seeking to engage ex-combatants to provide security during the consultations leading to possible rehabilitation of the Gold Risge mine, apparently with the concurrence of the Cabinet Sub-committee on Gold Ridge Mine re-opening”.

“KTDA believes that such ‘security arrangement’ serves only one purpose and that is, to intimidate and stifle any opposition or shut down any meaningful engagement by relevant stakeholders and Gold Ridge land owners, to the current of re-opening Gold ridge in a transparent and participatory manner.”

It said, as such it has created a significant security issue not only for resident communities around Gold Ridge area, but also from national security perspective.