The Minerals Regulation Commission (MRC) has approved a total of 444 mining rights and exploration licence applications for various mining rights.
MRC Board Chairperson Matongo Matamwandi said the Licencing Committee approved 305 Artisanal Mining Rights applications, 14 Large Scale exploration licence applications and 125 Small Scale exploration licence applications.
Mr Matamwandi pointed out that the newly constituted Mining and Non-Mining Rights Licensing Committee is urgently working to address the backlog of over 1,672 licence applications which have accrued from 2025, during the period in which the Board was not in place.
“The Mining and Non-Mining Rights Licensing Committee has over the last two weeks considered 823 applications covering various Mining rights, addressing about 50 percent of the backlog on pending applications,” added Mr Matamwandi.
He narrated that specifically, the committee addressed 462 Artisanal Mining Rights, a category which is a preserve of Zambian citizens comprising mining cooperatives and individual applicants, 164 Large Scale Exploration Mining Rights and 192 Small Scale Exploration Mining rights.
Mr Matamwandi was speaking today during a press briefing by the MRC on the outcome of the mining and non-mining rights committee meeting regarding various mining rights applications, in Lusaka.
He noted that the Commission is particularly encouraged by the continued participation of women in artisanal mining, in line with government’s policy position to increase the participation of women in the mining sector.
“Out of the total 237 of individual artisanal mining rights approved, 33.7 percent have been awarded to women, showing steady progress in unblocking barriers for the participation of women in the artisanal sector,” he added.
Mr Matamwandi reiterated the Commission’s commitment to supporting inclusive participation in mining by encouraging greater involvement of women, youth, persons with disabilities (PWD’s) and community-based enterprises.
“The Commission remains committed to clearing the backlog of applications in the shortest possible time,” added Mr Matamwandi.
Speaking at the same event, MRC Director General Thomlinson Hara said the committees’ achievement reflects MRC’s commitment to improving service delivery, enhancing efficiency and ensuring that mineral rights are administered in a fair, transparent and timely manner in accordance with the law.
“The licences granted so far represent an important milestone in stimulating investment in the mining sector, creating employment opportunities and contributing to Zambia’s economic growth. We remain committed to further improving our systems and processes to better serve investors and other stakeholders,” added Mr Hara.
He further said that the Commission remains steadfast in ensuring that all licence applications are assessed professionally, transparently and in full compliance with the minerals regulation Commission Act and other applicable laws and regulations.
And the Commission’s Director for Mining and Non-Mining Rights Samuel Maango said the Copperbelt and Northwestern provinces have recorded the highest number of mining licence applications despite mining activities taking place across the country.
Mr Maango also said the Commission is running a formalisation programme where it is training informal miners, aimed at encouraging safe mining and formalizing their businesses by forming cooperatives adding that the programme also helps curb illegal mining activities
