By Lupindula Mwewa
About 8,000 hectares of land is expected to be allocated as mining tenements at the Kikonge Gold site to more than 500 artisanal miners in Mufumbwe District of North-Western Province.
Director of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining at the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development BILLY CHEWE says each mining cooperative will receive about six hectares of land to carry out mining activities.
Mr. CHEWE says officers from the Ministry will begin allocating the mining tenements at the Kikonge Gold site to cooperatives that have already undergone training and are ready to begin formal mining operations.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on North-Western Province Permanent Secretary GRANDSON KATAMBI, Mr. CHEWE said Government is working to ensure safe mining in the area.
Meanwhile, Mr. KATAMBI has called for transparency and fairness in the allocation of mining tenements at the Kikonge site.
He said the process must be conducted in a clear and accountable manner so that genuine local cooperatives benefit from the mining opportunities.
Earlier this year, Government deployed military personnel to the Kikonge Gold site to stop illegal mining activities and restore order as part of efforts to pave the way for regulated mining operations.
