Westate Resources Limited, an Australian based mining company, is set to invest over 120 million United States Dollars in Nangoma area in Mumbwa District for gold mining exploration and implementation.

Company Managing Director, Paul Berresford, made this announcement during a media engagement this afternoon in Lusaka and disclosed that the investment is going to be implemented in three phases for a period of four years.

Mr Barrasford added that the company plans to create jobs for the local people in all its phases and that more jobs will be given to Zambian experts in the sector.

He added that the company is working closely with the local authorities in the area for the development of infrastructure and other social amenities that will benefit the communities around the mines.

And Central Province Minister, Princes Kasune, has welcomed the mining investment stating that it will help to rejuvenate the Province and the country as a whole.

Princes Kasune, however, appealed to the Mining company to ensure that they follow set guidelines in the country stressing on tax compliance and health and safety measures as some of the main challenges being reported from the sector.

The Minister further tasked the Westate management to ensure that they respect the Zambian labour laws and warned that government will not hesitate to intervene in case of abrogation of the laws.

She highlighted that Central Province is endowed with natural resources and tasked the Westate Resource Management to consider value addition to the resources within so that the country generates more revenue from the mining activities.

The Minister has assured that government is working at strengthening the policy framework and systems in the sector to protect the Zambians.