A female Small Scale Miner from Luapula province has advised Traditional leaders across the country to take interest in addressing illegal mining activities in their respective chiefdoms.

Managing Partner of Bupe Foundation Transit Home Limited, Ivy Sunkutu  says there is a need for traditional leaders to take the center stage in addressing the increased cases of illegal mining activities within their jurisdictions. 

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS today, Ms. Sukuntu stated that traditional leaders who she said are influential on their subjects, are vital personnel to engage on the dangers of illegal mining.

” While it is understood that locals in these areas may feel entitled to the land, it is important that they acquaint themselves with safety mining regulations to protect themselves. 

” Gaining basic knowledge on mining safety will help to avoid deaths among local mining communities, ‘ she said.

Ms. Sunkutu  further bemoaned the recent reoccurrences of deaths of illegal miners adding that there’s need to protect the young miners as they are the future of the country’s mining industry.

“We cannot have such  a thing happening when it can be avoided, the government itself is willing to put things in order through provision of licenses to artisanal miners to avoid occurrences of deaths,” she said.

 Meanwhile Ms. Sunkutu has  thanked the government for establishing a department specific for artisanal women in mining.

She said the move is a light of hope to women in the industry to strive and aspire to graduate to the level of medium and large scale mining.