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The government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming Zambia’s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector into a major driver of economic growth, as industry players call for sweeping reforms, including the establishment of state-owned mineral processing smelters to protect local miners from exploitation.
Central Province Permanent Secretary, Milner Mwanakampwe, said the government had prioritised the ASM sub-sector as a vehicle for citizen economic empowerment, employment creation and inclusive growth.
In a statement issued on Monday, Mwanakampwe said Government was working to create an enabling environment that would allow artisanal and small-scale miners to formalise their operations, access modern technology and financing, and participate competitively in the country’s mineral value chain.
He urged stakeholders to recognise small-scale miners as entrepreneurs rather than merely mineral extractors.
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“Zambia’s mineral wealth belongs to the entire nation, and its sustainable development requires the active participation of all stakeholders,” Mwanakampwe said.
He added that the ongoing artisanal and small-scale mining training programme in Central Province was aimed at promoting responsible, community-driven resource management while ensuring mining activities translate into tangible economic benefits for local communities.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Director for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining, Billy Chewe, said government remained committed to developing a mining sector that is safe, legal, formalised, environmentally sustainable and economically viable.
Chewe urged participants in the training programme to apply the skills acquired and champion responsible mining practices in their respective communities.
As government moves to strengthen the sector, the Federation of Small-Scale Miners Association of Zambia (FSSMAZ) has proposed a raft of policy reforms designed to increase transparency, improve earnings for local miners and maximise national benefits from mineral resources.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the federation called on government to establish state-owned mineral processing smelters in all copper- and manganese-producing provinces and introduce legislation requiring mandatory government testing and certification of minerals before they are sold.
FSSMAZ president Joseph Mwansa said the absence of independent mineral assaying services had left artisanal and small-scale miners vulnerable to exploitation by private buyers.
“We cannot continue watching our people being manipulated and our national wealth lost. Mandatory testing through state smelters will ensure miners receive fair market value while giving the Treasury an accurate record of annual mineral yields,” Mwansa said.
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