Vice President, Mutale Nalumango, has expressed happiness that illegal mining activities have reduced in Mumbwa’s Nangoma area.
Nangoma has been recording a number of deaths following unorthodox means of excavating gold.
Mrs Nalumango, who learnt from senior chief Shakumbila that illegal mining activities have been controlled in the area, warned that government will not tolerate illegalities in the mining sector.
She said all activities must be conducted within the confines of the law.
She said when she paid a courtesy call on chief Shakumbila that government will continue to rely on traditional leaders to help protect the country’s natural resources for the benefit of all citizens.
The Vice President described illegality as a curse that fuels instability and threatens national peace.
She added that the partnership between government and traditional leaders remains vital in promoting national stability and development.
Mrs Nalumango, who was in Mumbwa to commission the Xpoint Gold Processing Plant, said government is regulating the mining sector through the issuance of artisanal mining licences and enforcement of safety standards.
“We have issued many artisanal licences, we are telling our people not to engage in illegal mining, and we are promoting the adoption of safety measures in the sector,” she said.
She added that government will continue to closely monitor mining operations to ensure compliance with the law.
And senior chief Shakumbila of Mumbwa and Shibuyunji districts called on government to protect artisanal licence holders who supply gold to processing firms in the area.
The traditional leader also clarified that there is no illegal mining taking place in his chiefdom and discouraged what he called unnecessary deployment of police officers.
“I wish to state that there is no illegal mining in the district and therefore no need to bring police officers,” he said.
