Govt cancels over 840 dormant mining licences

MINES and Minerals Development Minister Richard Musukwa has announced that Government has cancelled over 840 dormant mining licences.

And Mr. Musukwa has warned that all mining licences being held in speculation will be cancelled to give an opportunity to people who are able to develop the resource.

“I am glad to inform this meeting that we have cancelled in excess of over 840 licences that have been held in speculation to free the ground,” he said. Mr. Musukwa said this when he addressed journalists in Lusaka yesterday.

He said dormant mining licences will be cancelled whether small scale or largescale because the government wanted to free the ground.

Mr. Musukwa said Government was giving opportunities to both locals and foreigners but with higher preference being given to local Zambians to migrate not only at small scale but large scale exploration and mining.

“We are giving opportunities to both locals and foreigners, and preference is being targeted at local Zambians to migrate not only to smallscale but also large-scale exploration and mining,” he said.

Mr. Musukwa said Government was creating linkages for small-scale miners with banking facilities for them to acquire loans to undertake mining exploration and consequently start mining operations.

He said his ministry was in the forefront to ensure that it links small scale miners with large scale miners to help them develop the resource.

“What we are doing, as government, is to create linkages for small scale miners with banking facilities for them to acquire loans to undertake mining exploration and consequently start mining operations,” Mr Musukwa said.