By STEPHEN MWEWA
GOVERNMENT should to open up mining bureau in Northern Province to promote small-scale mining in the region, Gem North Mining and Lapidary chairperson Stephen Mulambia has said.
He said small-scale miners in the region were in dire need of mining equipment to fully exploit the minerals.
Mr Mulambia made the appeal when Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Mushuma Mulenga paid a courtesy call on the Northern Province Administration.
Mr Mulambia said the province was endowed with various minerals which small-scale miners could exploit, once they acquired mining licences.
He said small-scale mining had not been fully tapped, largely due to lack of information, which could be provided if a bureau was established in the province.
According to Mr Mulambia, licensing offices were only in Lusaka, Mansa and Mkushi.
He also appealed to Government to provide small-scale miners in Northern Province with mineral identification equipment.
The Gem North Mining and Lapidary is a private organisation based in Northern Province whose main objective is to promote and support small-scale mining.
