By OLIVER SAMBOKO
THE coming of Mines and Mineral Commission will ensure that all grey areas in the mining sector are dealt with expeditiously, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe told Parliament yesterday.
Mr Kabuswe was speaking at government complex in Lusaka yesterday that the launch of the new Minerals and Mines ACT would be used as a vehicle to stop illegal mining in the country.
He said the mining industry was an important sector and that government had realised that the system used to monitor the sector was run centrally when the country was vast.
Mr Kabuswe said all the issues stakeholders were raising about poor management of the mining sector were because the Ministry of Mines could not be at all points at all times.
Mr Kabuswe said the Mines and Mineral Commission that had been setup to grow capacity to the Ministry of Mines to monitor the activities where mining activities taking place.
He said the new dawn administration took over the mining sector that was in a bad state where illegalities were the order of the day. Mr Kabuswe said close monitoring of mining activities would ensure that even big mines that were under declaring production figures were dealt with.
Mr Kabuswe also said the Minerals and Mines ACT would ensure that Zambians benefited from their natural resources.
He disclosed that government through his Ministry had started formalizing artisanal miners aimed at making sure that locals participate in mining sector unhindered.
