In a significant move to formalize Zambia’s artisanal mining sector, the government has officially closed a major training programme in Mpika, issuing certificates and licenses to over 500 miners from more than 300 cooperatives nationwide. The ceremony underscored a firm national policy shift towards legal, safe, and productive small-scale mining.

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Honourable Paul Kabuswe who officiated at the event, declared the training a clear demonstration of government’s commitment to transforming artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) from an informal activity into a structured contributor to national development.

“Today’s ceremony is not merely procedural,” the Minister stated. “It represents a clear demonstration of government’s commitment to transforming artisanal and small-scale mining from informality into a structured, safe, and productive contributor to national development.”

Highlighting the national reach of the programme, which drew participants from all ten provinces, the Minister framed it as a manifestation of the “One Zambia, One Nation” motto. He outlined President Hakainde Hichilema’s five core policy principles for the sector: zero tolerance for illegal mining, the non-negotiable priority of safe mining, the establishment of formal mineral trade, the protection of national security, and a commitment to inclusivity and empowerment.

“Government fully recognizes that artisanal and small-scale mining is a critical source of income and survival for many Zambians,” he said, adding that when properly managed, it can stimulate local economies, create jobs, and reduce poverty.

Echoing this transformative vision, Muchinga Province Minister Njavwa Simutowe emphasized the local impact, particularly for the emerging gold-producing areas of Kanyelele, Kambabwe, and Danger Hill within the province.

“This training programme represents a decisive intervention by government to address these challenges,” the Provincial Minister said. “By formalising miners and equipping them with knowledge and skills, government is deliberately shifting gold mining in Muchinga Province from informality to responsibility, from disorder to structure, and from short-term survival to long-term development.”

He acknowledged the economic importance of gold mining for local households but also cited the challenges of unregulated operations, including unsafe practices, environmental damage, and land-use conflicts. He pledged the provincial administration’s full support to work with traditional leaders and district authorities to ensure orderly development.

Both ministers issued a strong caution to the beneficiaries. The Mines Minister urged them not to trade their newly acquired licenses for “few coins,” which would be “very unsustainable,” but to use the knowledge to protect their lives and grow their businesses within the formal economy.

The Provincial Minister concluded by stating that the handover of certificates and licenses sends a strong message that the government is committed to unlocking the province’s gold potential responsibly. He urged miners to comply with the law and work with authorities to ensure mining becomes “a catalyst for development, peace and prosperity in Muchinga Province.”

With the Phase III training now officially closed, the government signals a new chapter for ASM, aiming to integrate thousands of miners into a regulated, secure, and economically empowering sector.