We held a meeting with Ali Rashed Alrashdi who is the International Holding Company (IHC) Board Chairman. IHC is one of the Middle East and Africa’s large conglomerates that invests in diversified global sectors. We discussed ways in which our citizens involved in small-scale mining sector can be properly organised and benefit from our mineral resources.
We are transforming our small or artisanal mining sector from the demeaning situation where they were being labelled illegal miners (jerabos) to an environment where they can obtain licences, assisted with some capital and equipment and provide ready market for them within the vicinity of their operations.
We shared ideas on the need to set up mineral processing plants and value addition facilities around small scale mining and avoid a situation where investors extract soil and export it in raw form.
We further discussed the need for joint ventures as the only way foreign companies can transfer knowledge and skills to our citizens. This will enhance job creation and exploitation of opportunities.
We look forward to the actualisation of more of such engagements and projects.
Hakainde Hichilema
President of the Republic of Zambia