GO FOR GOLD, GOVT TOLD

GOVERNMENT should employ a marshal plan for ZCCM-IH to mine for gold and cover deficit in resources by technical staff being laid off in other mines, mining experts have advised.

A mining expert, Edward Simukonda has urged government to take the discovery of gold in North Western province’s Mwinilunga district as a gift from God to replace the dwindling copper resources and shift focus to more valuable minerals like gold and tin.

“Rather than copper, the nation would generate more revenue from gold and tin, hence the need to make a shift now rather than later,” Mr Simukond said.

Mr Simukonda, who owns Daled Mine Limited said Zambia had valuable minerals which government should take interest in to earn more revenue for the country as compared to copper.

Mr Simukonda told the Daily Nation that Government should take advantage of the gold rush in North Western Province to secure increased revenue collection.

Mr Simukonda, said the country had valuable minerals which government should now concentrate on revenue.

The country was endowed with tin and gold, he said, which Government should focus on to help improve the country’s economy.

He observed that some parts of the country had composites of tin and gold, therefore, there to earn more was need for government to legalise the mining of the minerals in the country before they are illegally exploited.

Mr Simukonda said currently Tin was fetching US$ 16,937.50 per tonne, which was way better than Copper and it had potential to change the wellbeing of the country.

“North-Western, Central, Lusaka and Eastern Provinces are rich with these minerals. Gold has been known to exist in the country but government has not taken serious interest in ensuring it is exploited,” he said.

He said the government should make a decision and give cooperatives mining licences so that they could be mining the valuable minerals.

“We need to have proper mining companies than there is now.

The country is losing a lot of revenue through illegal mining,” he said.

Mr Simukonda said the country could not do away with exploration for copper but there is also need to take interest in the other minerals which the country is endowed with.