Govt urges traditional leaders to balance community interests with mining investment

The Zambian government has urged traditional leaders to strike a balance between safeguarding community interests and creating a conducive environment for mining investment.

In a statement issued in collaboration with Planet Gold Zambia, Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary, Hapenga Kabeta, called on chiefs to avoid imposing exorbitant fees on investors seeking consent to explore minerals in their chiefdoms.

“Traditional leaders are key to attracting investment, but unreasonable financial demands hinder exploration and delay progress,” Kabeta said.

He said, “We must work together to ensure communities gain sustainable advantages once mining begins.”

He stressed that excessive consent charges undermined national development goals and could discourage potential investors from operating in Zambia’s resource-rich areas.

Read more: Govt moves to establish national super cooperative structure to enhance support for small-scale miners

Kabeta also raised concern over the growing number of large-scale artisanal mining cooperatives, particularly in gold-bearing regions, warning that overcrowding in cooperatives fuels conflicts and reduces individual benefits.

“An artisanal mining licence only covers 6.67 hectares. Having cooperatives with hundreds of members is simply not sustainable. Cooperatives must be small enough to allow meaningful beneficiation for all members. Too many members dilute benefits and risk disputes,” Kabeta said.

Planet Gold Zambia National Project Manager, Abigail Mwailenge, announced plans for a new financing initiative for artisanal and small-scale miners.

The scheme would enable licensed miners to access funding for equipment and boost productivity.

“We are developing a financing scheme that will enable small-scale miners to obtain the tools they need to work efficiently and responsibly,” Mwailenge said.

“This is part of our wider strategy to formalise the sector and encourage sustainable mining practices,” Mwailenge added.

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