MINISTER TO SCRUTINISE ACQUISITION OF MINING LICENCES
By FLAVIOR KANUNGO
MINES and Mineral Development Minister Paul Kabuswe has assured the nation that the new dawn government will not entertain chaos in the acquisition of mining licences.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Mr Kabuswe noted with concern a situation where one investor was allowed to hold up to 50 mining licences under the previous government, some of which were non-operational.
He said the government is committed to bringing sanity in the mining sector by ensuring that mining licences are only issued to deserving individuals.
And Mr, Kabuswe said the importance of mineral exploration cannot be overlooked and that Government will pay particular attention to exploration activities.
Recently, one foreign-owned Zambian mining company was petitioned to the British government for allegedly holding onto licences for use on the London Stock Exchange while very little activity was taking place in Zambia.
The petitioner, Reverend Moses Lungu of the Evangelical Youth Alliance, had complained that the company be stopped from using the mining rights to earn money which was not benefiting Zambia.
