GOVERNMENT has intensified the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining in an effort to enhance safety and increase the sector’s contribution to national development.
Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe says so far, 1,488 artisanal mining rights have been issued, of which 1,176 are to individuals and 300 to cooperatives, targeting to mitigate illegal mining activities.
“These efforts target illegal mining activities in areas such as Mpika, Kasempa, Mfumbwe, and other mineral-rich regions,” Kabuswe said.
Speaking during a press briefing today, Kabuswe explained that under the new arrangements, small-scale operators will be expected to partner with Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines–Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH), which will in the initial phase mop up and process all gold produced by artisanal miners.
He added that the Zambia Gold Company Limited, appointed as the government’s gold buyer, began purchasing gold from artisanal miners in Rufunsa in February and in Mumbwa in March this year.
By June, the company had bought 13.9 kilogrammes of gold with an average purity of 84 percent from the two districts.
Kabuswe said government will also facilitate partnerships between artisanal miners and experienced investors to modernise gold mining operations, improve productivity, and create sustainable economic opportunities for Zambians.
In terms of maintaining safety, government will this month roll out the newly developed Peakside Manual starting with Mufumbwe, Kasempa, and Mpika, to guide miners on safe mining methods and reduce fatalities caused by a lack of technical expertise in informal mining.
By George Musonda
Kalemba August 14, 2025
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