OB22, OB19 Mining Kicks Off This Week – Tembo

Kelvin Tembo, Small Scale Miners Association of Zambia said mining activities at the OB 22 and OB 19 dumpsites will commence this week. 

The Presidential visit to Chingola saw President Hichhilema allocate the OB22 and OB19 dumpsites to the youths and stressed the need for safe and legal mining before the commencement of operations. 

Tembo said in an interview that various safety measures, equipment and access control have been put in place ahead of the commencement of operations to make sure there is no child labour at the sites.

Tembo also called on the government to continue to give more dumpsites to small-scale miners. Meanwhile, Ministry of Mines and Minerals Permanent Secretary Dr Hapenga Kabeta said most of the people participating in OB22 and OB19 were already trained in safety as training was carried out in North-Western Province, Mpika and Lusaka. Dr Kabeta reinforced that “we had representation from all parts of the country including people from the Copperbelt.