Economy

GOLD MINING CURE FOR ZAMBIA’S ECONOMY

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
GOLD mining if well exploited can assist in addressing macroeconomic challenges in Zambia, a Swedish organisation has said.

Sweden’s Diakonia Country Director, Geoffrey Chongo, said gold mining offered huge opportunities that could stabilise the economy.
He was speaking during the launch of the Centre for Trade and Policy Development (CPTD) gold mining study in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Chongo expressed optimism that gold mining if well utilised could stabilise the Zambian economy and allow people to do business, leading to a dignified life.
CTPD Senior Researcher, Webby Banda, said the research was conducted in Rufunsa, Mwinilunga and Lusangazi.
Mr Banda recommended that Government should establish market centres in remote artisanal and small-scale mining areas to facilitate the buying of gold by ZCCM-IH.
This, he said, could be done through the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry.
“Government should also consider designing a sector specific fiscal regime that support the growth of artisanal and small-scale mining sector among others,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Richard Musukwa, reaffirmed Government’s commitment to ensuring that gold benefitted the Zambian people.
Mr Musukwa said it was for this reason that Government had declared gold as a strategic mineral meant to allow citizens benefit from its exploration.
He said this in a speech read by the Mine Deputy Director, Brighton Kateka.
“Government through ZCCM-IH will strive to promote the growth of the artisanal and small scale mining in an effort to create employment opportunities for the locals especially where gold mining is taking place to enhance their economic welfare,” Mr Musukwa said.

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