Mining Indaba will help to unlock Luapula manganese potential —Musanje

Luapula Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) president Emmanuel Munsanje has said public–private sector dialogue is critical in unlocking barriers to doing business in the country.

Munsanje said dialogue was critical to resolve hurdles in the development of the manganese mining.

He said in an interview on Monday that it was encouraging that since coming into power, the United Party National Development (UPND) administration had been emphasizing on a private sector led economy.

Commenting on the soon to be held mining Indaba in Mansa, Munsanje said the Indaba would present an opportunity for the government and the private sector to map out ways of increasing the participation of locals in the manganese mining value chain.

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He said Luapula had the highest grades of manganese in the country but was one of the least industrialized provinces in the country, hence the Indaba would provide an opportunity for stakeholders to look at ways of unlocking the sector.

Munsanje said small scale miners had been grappling with access to finance to acquire equipment and working capital hence the Indaba would come at a right time.

Zambia’s mines Minister Paul Kabuswe disclosed that the mining Indaba which was earlier supposed to be held in the month of November last year is likely to be held in February,2023.