Gov’t to Build New Gold Centres to Legalise Mining
The Government has announced plans to construct new gold marketing centres across the country before the end of 2026, in a move aimed at formalising the mining sector and strengthening transparency in mineral trading.
Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary, Hapenga Kabeta, said the initiative will establish structured and regulated markets where artisanal and small-scale miners can sell gold through official channels.
Dr Kabeta revealed that the districts earmarked for the new centres include Lusangazi, Chisamba, Mpika, and an additional facility in Mumbwa, bringing the total number of centres in Mumbwa to two.
He explained that the selected locations are areas with high levels of gold mining activity, particularly those affected by illegal mining and the presence of unregulated buyers.
“The objective is to curb illegal trading, improve price determination and ensure that the country fully benefits from its mineral resources,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary added that the development follows the near completion of the Mumbwa Gold Marketing Centre, which currently stands at between 98 and 99 per cent complete.
Once operational, the facility is expected to bring together key stakeholders, including the Zambia Revenue Authority, Zambia Gold Company and the Bank of Zambia, as well as licensed aggregators, to facilitate transparent and accountable gold trading.
Dr Kabeta noted that the centres will enable miners to access fair and competitive prices while allowing the Government to track gold production and enhance tax collection.
He further emphasised that the programme forms part of a long-term strategy to formalise the mining value chain and support artisanal and small-scale miners through training in safe, legal and efficient mining practices.
