By Doreen Chembe
More than 500 artisanal miners have graduated from the third cohort of the national training programme and received official mining licences, marking a significant move towards a more organised and sustainable mining sector in Zambia.
The intensive 20-day programme attracted participants from more than 300 cooperatives across nine provinces and equipped miners with essential skills in safe, legal and environmentally responsible mining practices.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony in MPIKA, Mines and Minerals Development Minister PAUL KABUSWE said the occasion represents a major milestone in the Government’s efforts to uplift small-scale miners.
Mr. KABUSWE said the programme demonstrates the Government’s drive to transform artisanal mining from an informal activity into a structured and safe contributor to national development.
He urged the newly licensed miners to safeguard their formal status and warned them against trading their hard-earned licences for short-term benefits.
Meanwhile, Muchinga Province Minister NJAVWA SIMUTOWE spoke on the programme’s impact at local level, particularly in the gold-rich areas of Kanyelele and Kamabwe.
Mr. SIMUTOWE acknowledged previous challenges in the sector but described the training as an important step towards improved regulation and productivity.
