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The Zambian government has reported significant progress in supporting artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM), granting 680 new mining rights in 2024.
Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Paul Kabuswe, emphasized government’s ongoing efforts to formalize and finance the ASM subsector, which has become an essential source of livelihoods and economic contribution.
In a ministerial statement delivered in Parliament on Tuesday, Kabuswe highlighted that the government has worked to establish cooperatives to promote formal mining operations.
The Ministry, he said, has increased its ASM budget allocation from K52.1 million in 2023 to K131.4 million in 2024, with plans to maintain this funding in 2025.
The Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission has also disbursed funds, ranging from K862,720 to K19,096,480, to 28 miners, according to him.
Kabuswe noted the construction of two gold marketing centers in Mumbwa and Rufunsa at a cost of K19.2 million, set to complete in 2025.
These centers will serve as pilot sites for formalized gold trading.
Additionally, he made the following claims:
-That the Ministry has invested K12.8 million in equipment, including washing plants and gold detectors, to support 85 cooperatives in Mumbwa and Rufunsa.
-That the government has also introduced a Self-Service Online Mining Cadastre System (SSOMCS) to streamline mining rights applications, reducing delays in processing.
-That capacity-building programs, in collaboration with stakeholders such as the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), are being conducted to promote sustainable mining practices focusing on health, safety, and environmental protection.
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