Zambia makes progress against illegal exploitation of natural resources

Zambia has made positive strides in implementing the mechanisms against the illegal exploitation of natural resources.

Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary (PS) George Zulu says strides are towards attaining the mineral certification mechanism.

Mr Zulu said government has since designed a regional certificate template that now awaits security features to be incorporated before the implementation of the natural resources protocol.

The PS said this when he opened the ninth meeting of the regional committee against exploitation of natural resources.

He said Zambia stands committed in carrying out its mandate in the fight against the illegal exploitation of natural resources.

Mr Zulu reiterated government’s continued co-operation with other member states in the Great Lakes region in promoting co-operation and trade in natural resources.

He disclosed that Zambia has developed strategies and plans to promote conservation and sustainable exploitation and is currently revising the Mines and Minerals Act number 7 of 2007 to incorporate issues relating to conflict minerals.

The PS observed that there is need for the ICGLR to develop a web based platform that would provide information on mineral flows, whistle blowing mechanism by reporting any suspected irregular activities in the region.

The meeting was attended by ICGLR Executive secretary professor Ntumba Luaba, Zambia’s envoy to the Great Lakes and National Co-ordinator Lieutenant General Solomon Mumbi, ICGLR Programme Officer Ambeyi Ligabo and some senior ICGLR Secretariat staff and government officials.

The meeting has attracted participants from 12 core member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes (ICGLR) Region namely: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and the host, Zambia.