• Government has enabled a good environment for small scale miners.
• There is commitment to the growth of the small scale miners’ welfare.
• Promote engagement with the small scale miners, government urged.
Small Scale Miners Association of Zambia has commended Government for creating an enabling environment that has helped the growth of the small scale mining sector.
In an interview with Money FM News, Association Executive Director Kunda Chani says Government has shown good political will by bringing policies that have helped the small scale mining sector benefit.
“Government is promoting policy and moving in tandem with the political will to ensure that there is growth within the sector,” Mr Chani said.
“Manganese right now has boomed and there is increased trade in the mineral because Government has made it so easy to ensure that there is adequate investment in this particular sector.”
He said in a bid to increase the annual production of copper; Government has loosened the current regulations that are meant to be adhered to by small scale miners.
Meanwhile, Mr Chani urged government to promote engagement with the small scale miners because when the sector is doing well, it stands to benefit government to a large extent.
“We call upon government to promote constant engagement with our association so that they can deal with the right information and data on the basis of the production that is coming from our small scale mining activities,” He said.
He has since urged the small scale miners to a constant and continued engagement with relevant ministries such as Ministry or Mines.