Artisanal Miners to Receive Kikonge Tenements

The Government is set to allocate approximately 8,000 hectares of mining tenements at the Kikonge Gold site to over 500 artisanal miners in Mufumbwe District, North-Western Province.

Director of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining at the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, Billy Chewe, confirmed that each registered mining cooperative will receive around six hectares to conduct formal mining operations at the site.

Mr. Chewe said Ministry officers will begin the allocation process, prioritising cooperatives that have already completed the required training and are prepared to commence operations under a structured framework.

Speaking during a courtesy call on North-Western Province Permanent Secretary Grandson Katambi, Mr. Chewe emphasised that the Government remains committed to ensuring safe and regulated mining practices at Kikonge, bringing previously informal activity into the official sector.

The move is part of a broader national effort to formalise artisanal and small-scale mining, giving miners legal tenure over their claims while improving safety standards, productivity, and access to markets. Officials say the structured allocation of tenements will help curb illegal mining and ensure local communities benefit more directly from the region's mineral wealth.