Concerns are growing over the prolonged closure of the Kasenseli gold mine, despite President Hakainde Hichilema’s explicit directive to have the mine operational.
The delay in reopening the mine, which has been shut since 2021 has raised questions about the government’s commitment to reviving the crucial gold mining industry.
President Hichilema had in May 2024 ordered the operationalization of Kasenseli Gold Mine, along with other mining sites, in a bid to stimulate economic growth and harness the country’s vast natural resources.
However, this directive seems to have fallen on deaf ears, as the mine remains non-operational, prompting frustration and uncertainty among the local community and industry stakeholders.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Mwinilunga Member of Parliament Newton Samakayi has expressed dismay over the lack of progress in reopening the gold mine, emphasizing that mere pronouncements without tangible action have left the community in limbo.
“The President has unequivocally stated that the mine must be reopened, yet on the ground, there is little to no movement towards achieving this goal,” stated Samakayi.
The prolonged closure of Kasenseli gold mine, which was initially launched with high hopes for bolstering the Zambian economy, has deprived the country of a valuable opportunity to strengthen its gold reserves.
The Zambia Gold Company, a subsidiary of ZCCM IH started its official gold mining operations at Kasenseli in June 2020, with great anticipation and hope for the Zambian economy as the huge gold reserves held were believed to be large enough for the setup of a huge gold reserve that could provide a viable alternative to holding of US dollar reserves.
The delay has however placed undue strain on the Bank of Zambia, which has had to hugely rely on gold supplies from private entities due to the dormant state of the Kasenseli mine.
