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The Federation of Small Scale Mining Associations of Zambia (FSSMAZ) has moved to reassure artisanal and small-scale miners following widespread concerns over alleged mining licence cancellations across the country.
In an interview with Zambia Monitor on Sunday, FSSMAZ president, Joseph Mwansa, said a meeting held on April 7 with a senior official at the Mineral Resources Commission indicated that the Commission had no official record of mass licence cancellations.
Instead, according to Mwansa, the matter may relate to notices of intention to cancel licences rather than final revocations.
The clarification comes amid growing anxiety among miners who feared losing their mining tenements.
Earlier in February, the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development reportedly cancelled about 3,000 mining licences due to non-compliance with statutory requirements dating back to 2024.
Read more: Govt reportedly cancels 3,000 mining licenses in sector clean-up
Of these, 1,200 licence holders have since lodged appeals.
The cancellations followed findings that affected operators had failed to meet conditions set out under the Mines and Minerals Development Act.
According to authorities, the move formed part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening governance, accountability, and transparency in the mining sector, particularly in critical minerals such as copper, lithium, manganese, and cobalt.
However, during discussions with FSSMAZ, the Commission reportedly assured stakeholders that no Zambian citizen should be stripped of mineral rights unfairly, noting that its security wing was mandated to safeguard the interests of local miners and Zambian-owned mining companies.
Mwansa further revealed that some licences had been flagged for outstanding area charges, which triggered audit concerns and compliance reviews.
“Licence holders were reminded of key compliance requirements including payment of area charges, submission of quarterly production and operational returns, possession of a valid pegging certificate, a valid Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) decision letter and registration of a cadastre account, among others,” he said.
He urged all licence holders to urgently regularise their compliance status to avoid penalties or potential loss of mining rights.
Meanwhile, FSSMAZ has instructed regional associations to conduct immediate compliance reviews, gather members’ concerns, and submit consolidated reports for engagement with the Commission.
The association warned that miners who failed to participate in the compliance process risk bearing full responsibility for any consequences, stressing that this remained the only structured avenue for resolving outstanding regulatory issues.
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