Zambia’s Govt Launches Gold Mining Marketing Center in Lusangazi
Government to set up a gold mining marketing center in Lusangazi district of the Eastern Province to provide local people with easy access to the market for the mineral.
The gold marketing center will be established at a central location within the district. It will be responsible for the purchase and sale of gold extracted in Lusangazi.
Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Senior Planner, Angela Zulu , stated that plans are underway to set up additional gold marketing centers in other districts where gold mining activities are taking place.
Ms. Zulu mentioned that the gold marketing center plan is currently in the draft stage, and implementation plans are in progress as the formalization of gold mining activities in Lusangazi is still ongoing.
Ms. Zulu made these remarks during a sensitization meeting for artisan small-scale gold miners in Lusangazi, held in Petauke.
“The government intends to establish gold marketing centers in areas where gold mining activities are currently taking place, including Lusangazi,” she said.
Ms. Zulu explained that the government would play a key role in financing, establishing, and overseeing the operationalization of the centers. This includes providing a legal and regulatory framework for the center.
She added that the centers would consist of aggregators responsible for purchasing, selling, and transporting the mineral resource. They would also have gold refinery facilities for the purification of gold, among other components.
Ms. Zulu also stated that the objective is to ensure that the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) purchases all the gold in the area for the benefit of the country.
She further mentioned that there would be rules and regulations to be followed when conducting operations at the gold marketing center, with full involvement from the community in Lusangazi and other government line ministries.
Speaking at the same meeting, Lusangazi District Commissioner Mike Tembo assured that the government would expedite the issuance of artisan mining licenses to cooperatives in the area to fully formalize gold mining activities.
Mr. Tembo emphasized that priority should be given to local people in Lusangazi when issuing artisan mining licenses, while individuals from outside Lusangazi could also be licensed.
He expressed gratitude to the government for planning to establish a gold marketing center in Lusangazi, as it would ensure an accessible market for the mineral resource and create employment opportunities for local people.
“Thank you so much to the government for this plan, as it will bring the gold market closer to the people. We also appreciate the government’s commitment to expediting the issuance of artisan mining licenses and prioritizing local cooperatives,” he said.
