Africa urged to empower small scale miners

ESMAZ President Victor Kalesha

The Emerald and Semi-precious Stones Mining Association of Zambia has challenged African governments to empower small scale miners so that they can eventually operate legally.

ESMAZ president Victor Kalesha notes the need for Africa to gain from its natural resources by empowering its own people in mining.

Mr. Kalesha notes the need to form an African continental body for Artisanal small scale miners dealing in precious metals and development minerals that will act as a link between African governments and the artisanal small scale miners commonly referred to as illegal miners.

He is concerned over how African Governments are proud in promoting operations of foreign corporations in mining other at the expense of empowering the local people.

Mr Kalesha has also noted the need for governments to start making land accessible to Artisanal miners, stating that these miners are normally the first explorers and discoverers of most deposits before foreign corporations are given licenses to mine these deposits.

He has since appealed to cooperating partners to support the initiative of empowering small scale miners in order to reduce poverty and unemployment in Africa.