The EU donates Gold mining equipment to Zambia’s artisanal miners
The Zambian government received gold mining equipment financed by the European Union (EU) on Thursday to improve gold mining.
Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) will administer the equipment, that includes four lockers, four gold detectors, 12 turntables, and two gold mine shaker tables to be used in southern Vubwi and Lundazi districts. Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) is a government agency that holds shares in all mining companies on government’s behalf.
The equipment was purchased with EU support as part of the South African Development Community’s (SADC) Trade Facility Project to formalize the gold mining sector for a total price of 70,000 euros.
Mushuma Mulenga, a Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Industry, said ZCCM-IH was selected to manage the equipment in recognition of the company’s efforts in the gold mining sector and the need to maintain and sustain the use of the equipment, according to a release.
Mabvuto Chipeta, CEO of ZCCM-IH, thanked the government for giving his company responsibility to play a key role in formalizing the country’s artisanal gold mining sector.
He said formalizing the artisanal gold mining sector in Zambia was an important, timely, and urgent development opportunity that needed to be realized now.