Hichilema challenged to provide policy direction in the mining sector!

The lack of policy direction in the mining sector has left stakeholders feeling neglected despite Zambia having recently surpassed Chile to become the world’s leading emerald producer.

Lusaka, Dec. 17 [Phoenix News] – The Emerald Production Watch of Zambia has challenged President Hakainde Hichilema to provide a policy direction on the future of Zambia’s extractive industry contending that stakeholders are currently in limbo.

Organization President, Mr. Musa Kafimbwa, says the delayed provision of a policy direction for the emerald sector is frustrating and has left stakeholders feeling neglected despite Zambia having recently surpassed Chile to become the world’s leading emerald producer.

Also Read: Zambia surpasses Chile to become the world’s largest emerald producer!

Mr. Kafimbwa contends that while the Head of State recently said 20 percent of production should be for value addition and pronounced empowerment for small-scale miners, implementation is slow and worrying.

He adds that Zambia’s economic outlook has the potential to become positive if the country derives mechanisms to maximize revenue from the emerald sector.

Mr. Kafimbwa has bemoaned government’s failure to disburse the K50 million allocated to the sub-sector in the 2023 national budget. He claims that government has shown little interest in the sector, despite its potential to generate billions of dollars in revenue, create thousands of jobs and considerably enhance the country’s economy.

Also Read: We don’t have a capable leader to mobilise national wealth. By Edith Nawakwi.

“It would be a waste of time to get the debt restructuring without creating the necessary production capacity in the country to repay the debts when the repayments are due!”

He believes the Zambian government has the capacity to partner with Zambian citizens who own licenses and fully fund the sector without debt or foreign investors.

Mr. Kafimbwa says that with less than 10 licenses active out of nearly 500, Zambia must urgently address the issues that have kept license holders dormant, such as funding and equipment.

About Woodpecker’s Digest: We are an online portal for analytical commentaries on topical issues of national interest and for articles on personal development and health! Journalism maintains democracy. It is a great tool for progressive social change! We, therefore, see it as our job to put constant pressure on our leaders until we get answers.