Artisanal and small-scale gold miners in Mpika have expressed appreciation to the government for reforms aimed at improving participation in the mining sector.
During an event at Mpika Boys Grounds, the miners presented Vice President Mutale Nalumango with a letter of appreciation and a goat in recognition of the government’s support for the sector.
Speaking on behalf of the Community Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Miners (CASGM), the miners said they now feel more included in Zambia’s mining industry following reforms that have improved access to mining licences and support services.
The miners commended the government for training more than 160 mining cooperatives in Mpika, issuing over 300 artisanal mining licences and establishing the Kanyelele Formalisation Block.
They also welcomed the establishment of the Mining Bureau Office in Chinsali, the reduction in environmental licensing fees, the implementation of the Planet Gold Zambia Project and the opening of a gold buying office in Mpika.
The miners appealed to government to expedite the identification of mining tenements linked to their licences to enable them to commence operations before the licences expire.
In response, Vice President Mutale Nalumango said the miners’ testimony demonstrated that the government’s efforts to formalise artisanal and small-scale mining were beginning to yield positive results.
“Your words encourage us because they show that when Government listens to its people, positive change becomes possible,” Vice President Nalumango said.
She urged miners to operate within the law and observe safe mining practices, adding that government would continue supporting the sector through training, stronger cooperatives and improved market access.
The presentation of the goat and the letter of appreciation marked the miners’ expression of gratitude for the reforms implemented in the sector.
