400 artisanal miners in Kabwe for training

More than 400 artisanal miners drawn from different parts of the country have gathered in Kabwe to attend a 20-day Artisanal Small-Scale Mining Training.

The training is aimed at equipping participants with the necessary skills to conduct mining activities in a safe and healthy environment.

Ministry of Mines director of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining, Billy Chewe, urged participants to utilise the information so they can mine in a professional manner.

“The participants will be equipped with necessary tools to conduct their operations after training,” he said.

Central Province Permanent Secretary Milner Mwanakampwe, who officiated as guest of honour, thanked the Ministry of Mines for choosing to host the training in Kabwe.

Dr Mwanakampwe said the training would help miners extract minerals with the necessary skills and knowledge.

He urged participants to open bank accounts, noting that while it is the Government’s responsibility to find buyers for the minerals they extract, miners must formalise their earnings.

“Open bank accounts so that you desist from receiving money in sacks, as you are enriching foreigners who sell the gold at exorbitant prices,” he said.

The training has attracted participants from Central, Copperbelt, Lusaka, Luapula, Muchinga, North-Western, Western and Southern provinces.