By Francis Chipalo Government has started allocating 89 artisanal mining tenements at the Kikonge Gold Mine in Mufumbwe District, North-Western Province, to formalise gold mining operations and curb illegal mining. The exercise, being spearheaded by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development through the Minerals Regulation Commission (MRC), is at over 40 percent completion. MRC […]

By Francis Chipalo

Government has started allocating 89 artisanal mining tenements at the Kikonge Gold Mine in Mufumbwe District, North-Western Province, to formalise gold mining operations and curb illegal mining.

The exercise, being spearheaded by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development through the Minerals Regulation Commission (MRC), is at over 40 percent completion.

MRC Directorate of Mining and Non-Mining Rights Licensing Manager for Surveying, Mulolwa Mulolwa, said the allocation is part of Government’s broader formalisation programme for artisanal and small-scale miners.

“The allocation exercise is aimed at organising mining activities and enabling cooperatives to participate in the formal mining sector,” Mulolwa said.

The exercise had been delayed due to flooding and poor road access to Kikonge, which is located in a hard-to-reach area of Mufumbwe.

Mulolwa said works on the access road have since improved, allowing the technical team to access the site and resume the allocation.
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He said the team will remain on the ground in the coming days to ensure the process is completed.

Mulolwa reiterated Government’s commitment to promoting safe, legal and orderly mining operations, fair trade, and maintaining peace and security at all mining sites.

He also warned that Government will not tolerate violence and illicit activities at Kikonge and other mining areas across the country.

“We are conducting this under the Ministry’s formalisation programme which promotes safe and legal mining, fair trade, peace and security at mining sites. Violence and illicit activities will not be tolerated,” he added.

Kikonge, discovered in recent years, has attracted thousands of artisanal miners, leading Government to move in to formalise operations, improve safety and ensure that local communities benefit through cooperatives.

The allocation of the 89 tenements is expected to give cooperatives legal title to mine, enable access to technical support, financing and markets, and boost revenue collection for the State.

Government has in the last two years intensified formalisation of artisanal mining in gold, sugilite, manganese and other minerals as part of efforts to create jobs and increase the mining sector’s contribution to the economy.
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