Zambia to Allocate 8,000 Hectares at Kikonge Gold Site to Over 500 Artisanal Miners in Mufumbwe
Government to Allocate 8,000 Hectares to Artisanal Miners at Kikonge Gold Site
The Zambian government is set to allocate about 8,000 hectares of land as mining tenements to more than 500 artisanal miners at the Kikonge Gold Site, in a move aimed at formalising small-scale mining activities and promoting safer operations.
Director of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining at the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, Billy Chewe, said the land will be distributed to organised mining cooperatives operating in the area.
Mr. Chewe explained that each cooperative is expected to receive approximately six hectares of land, allowing them to carry out regulated mining activities under government oversight.
He disclosed that ministry officers will soon begin the process of allocating the mining tenements to cooperatives that have already undergone training and are ready to commence formal mining operations.
Mr. Chewe made the remarks when he paid a courtesy call on Grandson Katambi, Permanent Secretary for North-Western Province.
According to Mr. Chewe, the government is committed to ensuring that mining activities at the Kikonge site are conducted safely and in line with national mining regulations.
Meanwhile, Mr. Katambi has urged authorities to ensure that the allocation process is conducted with transparency and fairness so that legitimate local cooperatives benefit from the opportunity.
He emphasised that the distribution of mining tenements must be handled in a clear and accountable manner, warning that the process should prioritise genuine miners from Mufumbwe District and surrounding communities.
The government has been taking steps to restore order at the Kikonge gold site following a surge in illegal mining activities. Earlier this year, authorities deployed military personnel to the area to curb unlawful operations and stabilise the site ahead of the introduction of regulated mining.
Officials say the formal allocation of mining land to trained cooperatives is expected to boost local economic activity, improve safety standards, and ensure that the country benefits more sustainably from its gold resources.
