Zambia’s Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development has begun allocating 89 mining tenements in Kikonge as part of efforts to formalise artisanal and small-scale mining.
The allocation exercise is intended to enable mining cooperatives to participate in the formal mining sector and promote safe, legal and orderly operations.
Mulolwa Mulolwa, Surveying Manager at the Directorate of Mining and Non-Mining Rights Licensing of the Minerals Regulation Commission (MRC), said the exercise was more than 40 per cent complete as of October 15, 2026.
He said the process had initially been delayed by flooding and poor road access to the mining site but had resumed following improvements to the road infrastructure.
Mr Mulolwa said the team would continue allocating the tenements in the coming days to advance the process towards completion.
He added that the formalisation programme seeks to promote safe and legal mining, fair trade, peace and security at mining sites.
Mr Mulolwa warned that violence and illicit activities would not be tolerated, reiterating the government’s commitment to responsible and orderly mining.
The allocation of the 89 tenements is expected to provide mining cooperatives with opportunities to operate within the formal sector.
