Whatever method or policy the government has employed, it’s debatable if its working for the treasury, for establishing gold reserves or for the majority citizens who it owes a duty of trust.
The Zambian Business Times – ZBT through it’s specialized mining coverage has been reporting and documenting sporadic and locals mineral discoveries and the eventual results.
The story is not good, it’s actually BAD and a big indictment. It seems like whenever Government gets involved or moves in to purportedly ensure safe mining, the mineral viability seems to vanish or simply becomes a state secrete.
Both the locals who discover these mineral wealth and the treasury seem to have nothing to show for it. This is why we are now witnessing killings of desperate citizens and artisanal miners who see these take overs by government as wanton thieving, opportunity deprivation by those sent by government.
Below are a few incidents or mineral wealth rush that show that really, there is something fishy or terribly wrong going on. See some timeline below and some of the mineral finds which have largely gone mute.
2018 – Luano Valley gold rush – Govt moved in, and this story has since died, no mine has sprung up and this district remains underdeveloped.
2019 – Kasenseli gold rush – Mwinilunga , govt moved in through ZCCM-IH & ZNS, viability and geological occurance of gold which was initially thought to be in billions of dollars has vanished, Mwinilunga remains rural and underdeveloped despite this highly expectant find.
2022 – Muombe mine Sugilite rush – Chembe, then Luapula Provincial minister was even sacked, but later Govt reported that the mineral had been exhausted. The affected minister was later acquitted. Luapula remains with no serious mine and attracting serious multi million dollar investments remains a pipedream.
2023 – Mumbwa gold rush, again govt moved in, removed artisanal mining and so far, the fairy story has died. This mine was reported to be embroiled in double licences, Mumbwa town remains reliant on agriculture.
2023 – Kanyelele gold rush – Mpika, govt moved in, the story has since died a natural death. Some ZEMA environmental reports stated that a Chinese mine was coming up, to date, Mpika remains in limbo
2024 – Mapatizya Amethyst rush – Govt moved in, so far, it’s not clear who is benefiting from the mining activities. It was at least reported that the locals would be given artisanal licenses, who has made fortune from this mineral find? It still remains a secrete.
2025 – Kikonge gold rush – Mufumbwe, govt has moved in, what should Zambia’s expect? Citizens have even lost their lives with the exact number reminind unconfirmed after the artisanal unlicensed miners rioted when police and military personnel went to evict them.
Tungsten was also reported to have been discovered in large quantities and with all the above cases, can you surely blame artisanal miners and locals in these areas for resisting eviction?
If these finds are not significant as some government officials would want the nation to believe, why then dont they allow the locals to continue with their artisanal mining activities? Why not formalize their activities as opposed to evicting them?
Who is really benefiting from these mine takeovers? Why are there no serious and credible investors to help transform these towns?
Who is checking if that private company contracted to do mineral survey is doing the right thing? Is there anyone looking out for Zambia or it’s all about personal gain???
