Rufunsa gold mining cooperatives ready for business

The Rufunsa gold mining cooperatives are now ready to begin mining having received adequate technical support from ZCCM-IH.

Chimwetu Gold Mining Cooperative chairman, Emmanuel Tembo made the observation after a two days’ training by ZCCM-IH which involved corporate governance, use of mining equipment among other lessons. The event was attended by representatives of the three cooperatives namely: Chimwetu, Pokela and a newly registered Kamandu at the council chambers in Rufunsa. Mr Tembo said that the training by ZCCMIH was enlightening and that the cooperatives were now ready to begin their mining activities as the groups were now capable of handling the mining equipment and manage the affairs of the cooperatives. According to him all the areas of concern were adequately addressed. Some of the issues of concern was the grading of the gold which he said would be done in collaboration with ZCCM-IH. He said this concern was raised because most of the gold in the district was 99 % pure gold. He said that this raised concerns of possible undervaluing by buyers who would take advantage of the locals’ lack of technical know- how. He also disclosed that ZCCMIH has assured them that boreholes will be sunk on all three sites to enable them perform their processing well. And Kelvin Ngulube, chairman of Pokela Gold Mining Cooperative, also confirmed the development. He also observed that the technical support from ZCCMIH would go a long way in enhancing the operations of the cooperatives.