The Zambian government said on Thursday that it will intensify measures to monitor the operations of mining firms to ensure adherence to mining regulations.
Paul Kabuswe, minister of mines and minerals development, said there had been rampant flouting of mining regulations in the past due to lax supervision of operations.
“One of the mistakes of the past was negligence in checking on the investors. We have declared all minerals as strategic, and the government will have a serious presence,” he said in a live interview on Radio Phoenix.
While acknowledging that the government’s desire is to create a conducive environment for investment, the minister said a guiding report has been developed to make sure that the investors operate in accordance with stipulated regulations.
According to him, the government will ensure that all key government institutions are on high alert to prevent environmental pollution, tax evasion, and other illegal activities.