REGULATION OF MINING SECTOR CRITICAL – NUMAW

By Arnel Chitundu

Enacting the Minerals Regulation Commission Bill and Geological Bill into Law is important as it will serve to ensure proper control of how   minerals are extracted in the country, a Union representing miners had said.

Speaking to The Scoop, National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW), President Saul Simunjika said it was clear that the biggest area of minerals was being extracted by foreign companies.

 He said there was need for guidance on how minerals should be managed, in order for Zambians to benefit.

He said the enactment of the Bill into law, needed to happen as quickly as possible, for proper guidelines in terms of mineral extraction.

He stated that ensuring miners acquired the skill and necessary knowledge needed in the extraction process was cardinal, for the development of the country’s mining sector.

 “We will continue to call for bigger shareholding on the Government’s part, as there is no reason why foreign companies should be major shareholders of our country’s mines,” Mr. Simunjika said.

 Mr. Simunjika said going forward there was a need to increase the shareholding percentage for Zambia over foreign investors, stating that Mopani was a good example in the right direction.

He has since called for Zambians with mining licenses to not fail in their operations and leave the job to foreigners.

“If miners   do not have the financial capacity, it is better to partner with foreign investors so that ownership still remains with Zambians and be able to maintain control,” he said.

He stated the importance of stakeholders like mine unions in the industry, to contribute to the document before enactment, as they understood the works well.

Meanwhile, the Government announced that it had made headway in developing the legal framework for the Minerals Regulation Commission Bill and the Geological Bill.

 And that it was seeking inputs from artisanal and small-scale miners on the minerals regulation framework which is focusing on stimulating investment in the geological mapping and mineral resources exploitation.