Government urged to constitute advisory body for the mining sector

Mining expert, Edward Simukonda, has advised government to constitute an advisory body to ensure effective management of the mining sector.

Simukonda said the advisory body should be comprised of mining experts and other technocrats who were well-versed in the mining sector.

“The best way I think would be to introduce a body that would comprise of technocrats in mining in different fields. We are talking about surveyors, mining engineers and mineralogists and so on to make a good team, even of about 20, it does not matter the number.

“They can be under the umbrella of the Permanent Secretary or the Minister himself, so that, you know, before any pronouncements are made, these people who have had experience in the field themselves can guide and I think we would move in better in direction,” Simukonda said in an interview.

He suggested the advisory body should be directly under the Office of the Minister of Mines and Mineral Development for the members to have direct interaction with the Minister and provide advice on different issues relating to the sector.

Simukonda also said the advisory body would help with solutions on how the country could benefit from its minerals as well as increase production.

“You know investigations have been done as we speak to support you know the three million metric tonnes that we talk about . Do we have it? Where is it on record to say that we’ve got enough copper to reach such a tonnage per annum? So I think, that should be looked into,” he said.

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