Zambia's Artisanal Gold Mining Sector Gets Boost with planetGold Initiative 

By Daily News Reporter 

The PLANET GOLD Zambia Project says it has recorded steady progress in its first year of implementation, with authorities expressing confidence that the initiative will significantly transform the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector. 

Speaking at a media  engagement in Lusaka PLANET GOLD Zambia National Project Manager Ms Abigail Mwailenge stated that 2025 achievements have layed a strong foundation for advancing formalisation, improving access to finance and promoting responsible mining practices as the project moves into its second year in 2026.

Meanwhile Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) Acting Director General, Karen Banda also stated that the introduction of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations under Statutory Instrument Number Three (3) of 2026 will significantly improve compliance and formalisation in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector. 

And Ministry of Mines and Minerals Assistant Director for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Brighton Kateka added that government is operationalizing the Mining Appeals Tribunal to strength dispute resolution within the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. 

Mr kateka  noted that while the tribunal existed under the previous mining law, it had not been instituted, a gap that the current legislation is now addressed to allow aggrieved parties to channel their appeals directly through the tribunal.

The project, which is funded by the Global Environment Facility and is under implementation by the United Nations Environment Programme, is being executed by the Artisanal Mining Board in partnership with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA). 

PlanetGOLD Zambia aims to support a cleaner and more transparent gold supply chain by reducing, and where possible eliminating, the use of mercury in gold processing among small-scale miners across the country.