Central Province Permanent Secretary, Milner Mwanakampwe, has underscored government’s commitment to supporting lawful, organised and sustainable mining activities.
Dr Mwanakampwe said the Provincial administration will continue to work with district authorities, traditional leadership, and security institutions to ensure that Artisanal Small Miners (ASM) operations operate within the confines of the law and serve the broader public interest.
He was speaking when the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Assistant Director for Policy and Planning, Mercy Zulu, paid a courtesy call on him.
Dr Mwanakampwe stressed that ASM activities must contribute positively to community development, environmental protection, social stability and national economic growth
He has commended the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development for taking deliberate steps to strengthen its capacity framework.
The Permanent Secretary acknowledged the collaboration with the land facility programme supported by the United Kingdom foreign commonwealth and development office.
He said such partnerships reinforced government’s commitment to structured formalisation and sustainable mineral development
And Ms Zulu announced that the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development was reviewing its artisan training manual as part of a broader strategy to formalise the sector, enhance safety standards, and boost productivity.
Ms Zulu said the initiative aimed to curb illegal, unsafe mining practices and ensure that more cooperatives are trained and licensed.
She emphasized that the updated framework focuses on sustainable, responsible, and legal mining operations.
Ms Zulu added that the initiative aims to review and train artisanal miners, guiding their transition into formal, tax-compliant, and safe operations.
Earlier, a representative from RESOLVE, an American institution specialises in mediating disputes and fostering collaboration to solve critical environmental, social, and health challenges, spearheading the training, Steven Bockane, commended the government for regulating the artisanal miners in the country.
Mr Bockane said while ASM contributed to income generation and local economic activities, it must be conducted in a manner that is lawful, organized, safe and environmentally responsible.
