Have you ever dreamed of taking a pan down to the river and pulling up nuggets of gold? This ancient practice still holds allure for many people, but it wasn’t always legal to pan for gold in Zambia. But the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development (MMMD) has just changed all that.
We visited the MMMD to find out more about it.
We met with head of Mineral Economics at the Ministry, Mr Willy Chilufya He explained to us that the MMMD has recently started issuing gold panning certificates in an effort to promote and legalise small-scale gold mining. The move, Mr Chilufya explains, is aimed at formalising small-scale mining and processing of gold in areas like Lufunsa, Vubwi, Lwano and Petauke where gold deposits have been found in streams.
“The gold panning certificate is valid for two years after issuance and is basically meant to give rights to Zambian citizens and cooperatives who want to pan for gold,” he says.
But before the decision was taken, the Ministry sought out the facts. Mr Chilufya explained that the Zambian Revenue Authority, the Ministry of Commerce, the Bank of Zambia and ZCCM-IH conducted a study to gather evidence that would help the Ministry of Mines understand the potential that small-scale gold miners may have to create meaningful jobs and contribute to the government treasury.
“This team has given us findings and recommendations that will serve as a strategy going forward as regards to gold panning and trading in Zambia. As a Ministry our thought is to have a formal system that will enable gold panners to sell gold to us so that it can sit as a government reserve in the central bank.”
Mr Chilufya says the panning certificate is currently being issued at the Mineral Economics office at the offices of the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development in Lusaka.
“It is being issued electronically through the Mining Cadastre Administration System (MCAS), a web-based mining rights cadastre system that has been put in place by our partners, the European Union. The requirements for one to get a gold panning certificate are very simple. One just has to fill in a form, bring a tax clearance, Identification and they are good to go,” he says.
This is good news for those individuals and cooperatives out there who wish to follow the right channels to realise their gold panning dreams.
GOLD DIGGERS
Indeed that’s what they are
Indeed
Make me understand why i need to waste my time to go get a certificate when am currently panning and selling my nuggets without interference…what the benifit.. apart from saying that now am panning legally…This has always been the issue with zambian systems which are introduced with absolutly no benefit for the peron you are compelling to get the licence. Another ZRA scheme i guess just like trying to force people to pay VAT for rentals recieved from housing ,,whats the benefit for the home owner??? thats how you increase compliance
Comment:
Both in Congo DR and Tanzania villagers were empowered by their respective governments a long time ago to own and operate gold mining entreprises.
Comment:
And little wonder, therefore, that in Tanzania, for instance, you will find that prados, the so – called ‘ifipaso’ type vehicles are used as taxis for the wananchi everywhe, between towns and villages.
Sound like a good move, TROUBLE IS WE HAVE NOT SEEN OR HEARD OF ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENTS (EIA) and accompanying MITIGATING MEASURES!! We find gold through panning but FOR SURE SOME WILL START DIGGING IN STREAMS and AREAS NEARBY, thereby endangering the ecosystem of some of water bodies!!
I’m setting up panhandler team right now!
It’s like in the Western movies, all shoot outs and all over territory!
You thieves the so called useless politicians you apes stop stealing our minerals you children of Satan ba mumbwe imwe atase mukwai even now you are still taking our Minerals from chimfunshi mine in chililabombwe and katoka meema mine in kasempa districts at we are taking the minerals in laboratory for testing just open the mines officially so that poverty maybe eradicate Christopher yaluma you will be punished once you leave office with your fellow kawalalas senior chief kasempa he is even in support of useless things at come and you do testing four trucks of copper and gold at we are taking these minerals mu laboratory i wish chief ingwe was the senior chief thumbs up to you your Majesty may you live long chief ingwe of kasempa district north western province of the kaonde speaking…
GOOD MOVE BY GRZ. LET ME CHECK IT OUT. COME RAIN SEASON,I’M IN.