ZCCM-IH, planetGOLD Zambia Team Up to Transform Artisanal Gold Mining
ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the planetGOLD Zambia Project to formalise the country’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector and promote responsible, mercury-free mining practices.
The signing ceremony, described by ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer Kakenenwa Muyangwa as a “landmark partnership,” marks a significant step towards transforming Zambia’s gold sector into one that prioritises sustainability, safety, and economic inclusion.
“This partnership is about changing the narrative,” Muyangwa said, highlighting that artisanal and small-scale miners, while supporting thousands of rural households, often operate informally and face health risks due to mercury exposure and limited market access.
Under the government’s gold mandate assigned to ZCCM-IH, the company will act as a bridge to the market, providing a transparent off-take system for gold produced from mercury-free sites. Muyangwa noted that this approach ensures fair pricing, traceability, and helps curb illegal gold smuggling while boosting national value retention.
The MoU also involves close collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), reinforcing a multi-stakeholder approach to reforming the gold subsector.
Abigail Mwailenge, Ministry Manager, described the agreement as a “milestone” for formalising the ASGM sector, ensuring that gold from mercury-free processing sites is traceable and that miners receive fair value for their work.
The planetGOLD Zambia Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility, implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and executed by the Artisanal Gold Council, has been instrumental in organising miners into formal groups and facilitating access to legal markets and financing.
“The development of the ASGM sector must start now; otherwise, others will take the lead,” Mwailenge said, emphasising the urgency of immediate action to develop sustainable mining practices.
In his remarks, Jackson Kafwanka, Assistant Director of the ASM Department, highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to transforming ASGM into a formalised, community-driven sector that produces traceable gold in line with national regulations.
He affirmed that the government would continue providing technical guidance, policy support, and partnership to ensure the initiative contributes to Zambia’s Sustainable Development Goals while safeguarding natural resources.
ZEMA Acting Director-General Christopher Kanema noted that the agency, under its mandate to regulate and enforce environmental practices, ensures compliance with national laws and international conventions, including the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
He added that the planetGOLD Zambia Project is leading efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate mercury use through sustainable technologies, access to finance, traceable supply chains, and capacity-building initiatives.
“This agreement is for the miners,” Muyangwa concluded. “Together, we are proving that artisanal and small-scale gold mining can uphold high standards while protecting our land and empowering our people.”
