President Hichilema says mining should not bring national insecurity

President Hakainde Hichilema says while the UPND New Dawn fully supports artisanal and small-scale mining, its practice must never bring insecurity in the country.

President Hichilema officially opened the first-ever artisanal and small-scale mining conference in Lusaka today.

President Hichilema told the conference that legal and safe mining among artisans and small-scale miners is what will contribute to economic growth for job creation, business opportunities and treasury income in Zambia.

He said the country is endowed with various minerals of high economic value and such minerals ought to be legally exploited by Zambians and sold to formal and structured markets.

“We want the artisanal and small-scale miners to contribute to economic growth to create jobs, business opportunities for someone to supply you with a pick and shovel, front-end loader, tipper and an excavator,” he said.

“No large-scale miner, no medium-scale miner, no small-scale miner and no artisanal miner will be allowed to mine in an area and bring insecurity and armed thugs there. Security in the mining areas is a national security issue,” the President said.

He added that the results of the ongoing high geophysical mapping, whose progress is around 30 percent, should not bring more conflict around mining.

President Hichilema further said mining is Zambia’s economic pillar and as such, it must be carried out with strict adherence to legality, safety, formal trade and security.

He also said there must be an efficient system, devoid of any corruption, in the issuance of licences to artistisanal and small-scale miners across the country.

Since UPND formed government in August 2021, over 1, 400 licences have been issued to artistisanal and small-scale miners.

“There must be no corruption in the issuance of licences. Citizens must be allowed to have access to licences. You have to ve a Zambia in this category of licences,” the President said.

President Hichilema also said while artisanal and small-scale mining is exclusively for Zambians, there is an opportunity for international investment to come at the buying point.

“Don’t sell it to illegal buyers. “Sell it to a legal entity. That’s why we are bringing ZCCM-Investment Holdings, Zamgold, and others,” he said.