ZCCM-IH Partners with Planet Gold Zambia to Champion Mercury-Free Gold Mining

ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Planet Gold Zambia Project, marking a significant step towards cleaner, more responsible gold mining practices across the country.

The agreement, signed at a ceremony in Lusaka, establishes a framework for promoting mercury-free artisanal and small-scale gold mining, with ZCCM-IH providing a reliable and transparent offtake channel for gold produced at certified mercury-free sites. Speaking at the event, ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer Kakenenwa Muyangwa said the partnership would guarantee miners fair prices while ensuring full supply chain traceability — a critical safeguard in a sector long associated with opacity and environmental harm.

Planet Gold Zambia Project National Project Manager Abigail Mwailenge underscored the broader significance of the agreement, noting that it would help bring Zambia's fragmented artisanal mining sector into the formal economy and tackle the persistent problem of illegal gold smuggling, which continues to deprive the country of significant revenue.

The initiative received a warm welcome from government, with Ministry of Mines Assistant Director Jackson Kafwanka affirming the Ministry's commitment to transforming artisanal and small-scale mining into a structured, community-centred industry. He described formalisation as essential to unlocking the sector's full economic potential while protecting both miners and the environment.

The partnership signals growing momentum behind Zambia's efforts to position its mining sector as a model of responsible resource governance ahead of a pivotal election year.