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Government has announced plans to construct new gold marketing centres across the country before the end of this year, as part of efforts to formalise the mining sector and enhance transparency in mineral trading.
Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary, Hapenga Kabeta, said the initiative aimed to create structured and regulated markets where artisanal and small-scale miners could sell their gold through official channels.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Kabeta said districts earmarked for the new centres include Lusangazi, Chisamba, Mpika, and an additional facility in Mumbwa, bringing the number of centres in the district to two.
He said the selected locations were areas with high levels of gold mining activities, particularly those affected by illegal mining and unregulated buyers.
“The move is expected to curb illegal trading, improve price determination, and ensure that the country fully benefits from its mineral resources,” Kabeta said.
The Permanent Secretary said the development follows the near completion of the Mumbwa Gold Marketing Centre, which currently stands at about 98 to 99 percent complete.
Once operational, he said, the facility would bring together key stakeholders, including regulatory agencies such as the Zambia Revenue Authority, Zambia Gold Company, and the Bank of Zambia, as well as licensed aggregators, to facilitate transparent and accountable gold trading.
“The new marketing centres will enable miners to access fair and competitive prices, while allowing Government to track production and collect appropriate taxes,” Kabeta said.
He emphasized that the programme was not a one-off intervention, but part of a long-term strategy to formalise the mining value chain and support artisanal and small-scale miners with training in safe, legal, and efficient mining practices.
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