Mines and Minerals Development Minister Richard Musukwa has emphasized that the government has not authorized any uranium mining operation in the country.

According to media reports, Chief Simaamba of the Bagande people of Siavonga District issued an ultimatum to a Canadian Company allegedly operating the Muntanga Uranium mine to “start Mining Uranium or get out”.

The Traditional leader is quoted as saying that “we are aware that a lot of explorations were done and a lot of minerals taken away on pretext that they were going to do analysis somewhere”.

But Mr. Musukwa said in a phone interview with Money FM News that government has not authourized any uranium operation.

Mr. Musukwa says government cannot expose the people to the risks associated with uranium.
During a mining indaba organized by the Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) recently.

Mr. Musukwa said that Zambia does not have a proper Uranium Mining Policy in place to guide the mining of the mineral, hence authorization cannot be given, even though licenses have been issued to some companies.

Research shows that “the highest potential radiation-related health risk for uranium mining or processing facility workers is lung cancer associated with inhaling uranium decay products (more specifically, radon decay products), as well as other non-lung-cancer risks associated with gamma radiation exposure on-site.”