MACIG Connect Series
The President of Zambia’s Small Scale Miners Association explains the efforts to help more Zambians benefit from the mining industry.
Can you explain SSMAZ’s role in the Zambian mining sector and highlight its priorities for the sector?
Education, training, demonstration and monitoring are the key elements of any program for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Zambia and improving occupational safety and health in ASM. Fair-trade initiatives for giving small-scale producers in developing countries the opportunity to trade their products under better selling terms and conditions should be developed wherever possible. Encouragement and support for the formation of cooperatives, associations or enterprises to support communication, cooperation and coordination between miners should also be provided as opportunities for networking between miners to share information and coordinate activities are often productive.
From the small-scale miner’s perspective, what is the greatest challenge facing the Zambian mining sector? Continue reading