Tue, 19 Sep 2017 12:45:23 +0000
By Mailesi Banda
SMALL-SCALE miners command 75 percent of the mining sector in Zambia, unfortunately, the sector does not receive support from the government to attain its maximum potential to contribute to the economy, Federation of Small-scale Miners Association of Zambia president Joseph Kanyama has said.
The federation president said supporting small scale miners would stimulate economic growth since most of the resources would be returned locally since most small scale miners are locals.
He expressed disappointment at the negligence the sector was facing, lamenting that large scale miners were receiving more support from the government, even after commanding only 25 percent of the market.
He said large scale mines were given preferential treatment with incentives that favoured their business development while the small-scale miner continued to struggle through business.
“The small scale mining sector is mainly dominated by local people and these people depend on this business for their livelihood the challenge however remains that the government does not support the sector in terms of incentives to stimulate growth, Mr Kanyama said.
Mr Kanyama also said support to the small-scale mining sector would stimulate economic growth and help the government in the implementation of the Seventh National Development Goal.
He explained that for Zambians to benefit from the minerals value chain it was important they actively participated in the mining sector by owning mines that will benefit from government incentives.
Mr Kanyama said minerals were a depleting resource adding that if Zambians did not benefit from the resource now they would lose out on the benefits and still fall victim to the effects on the environment once the mineral depleted.
He explained that as part of the Government’s decision to enhance local finance mobilisation supporting small-scale mining would help the country increase their revenue base from the minerals sector.
