Party leader, Chanda, calls for closure of unlicensed gold processing plants

Leader of the United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia party, Charles Chanda, has urged government to act immediately and close all gold processing plants operating in the country without valid mining licenses.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday, Chanda said foreign firms, including Chinese-owned companies, currently had processing plants within Zambia and that government must step in to secure the nation’s gold reserves for Zambians.

He called on government to take urgent action to stop foreign firms from benefiting more from Zambia’s gold than its own citizens.

Chanda said without proper monitoring it was impossible to know exactly how much gold was being produced and exported. He argued that all gold should be processed through a central system so that the Bank of Zambia can build up national reserves.

“The government should follow the example of South Africa, where some gold mines have operated for over 400 years, to unlock long-term value for the nation and establish a dedicated gold company to maximise national profits,” he said.

He urged political leaders to put their differences aside and work together to build a prosperous Zambia.

Chanda stressed that Zambian youths were eager to work and that gold mining provided a major opportunity for job creation and skills training.

He said the focus should be on development and ensuring that Zambia’s natural resources benefited Zambians first.

The call from the UPPZ leader comes after the August 13th general elections, with the cost of living and economic management at the top of voters’ concerns.

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