Muchinga Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Grants Chisapa says the formalisation of gold mining activities in the province will bring significant benefits to both Muchinga and the country at large. Mr Chisapa said the government is committed to formalising all gold mining…

Muchinga Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Grants Chisapa says the formalisation of gold mining activities in the province will bring significant benefits to both Muchinga and the country at large.

Mr Chisapa said the government is committed to formalising all gold mining activities in the province and to ensure the process is undertaken without delay.

He, however, indicated the need for all miners to first vacate the mining sites before the formalisation process could commence.

Mr Chisapa said this during a stakeholders’ engagement on mineral regulation, compliance and formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining held at Northern Rock Hotels in Mpika today.

He said formalisation would help bring sanity to the mining sector by ensuring that all mining companies operating in the province were properly identified and regulated.

Mr Chisapa said this would also make it easier for authorities to hold mining companies accountable whenever they violated mining regulations.

He expressed concern that unregulated mining activities had contributed to water pollution and exposed miners to unsafe working conditions.

Mr Chisapa further noted that illegal mining activities had provided a haven for prohibited immigrants and facilitated other illegal activities.

He called for concerted efforts among stakeholders to curb illegal gold mining in Muchinga Province.

Meanwhile, Minerals Regulation Commission Minerals Security and Protection Manager Malfred Moola said illegal mining deprived the Government of much-needed revenue that could otherwise contribute to national development.

Mr Moola said illegal gold mining needed to be stopped without delay to ensure that the benefits from the country’s mineral resources reached all citizens.

He emphasised that the government would not discriminate against anyone during the removal of illegal miners from mining sites.

Meanwhile, Chief Chikwanda of the Bemba speaking people in Mpika expressed concern over the conduct of some mining companies operating in the area.

The traditional leader said some companies had been granted licenses to undertake mineral exploration but had instead engaged in actual gold mining in violation of the law.

Chief Chikwanda called on the government to urgently intervene and stop the companies from engaging in illegal mining activities.

“What these people are doing is a serious violation of the law,” he said.

The engagement was held under the theme of mineral regulation, compliance and formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining.

Gold deposits have been discovered in several districts of Muchinga Province, presenting economic opportunities for local communities while also raising concerns that require urgent regulatory intervention.