Zambian Mines Suspended In Order to Fight Corruption

President Hichilema's government has stepped up its anti-corruption efforts by suspending the issuance of mining licences for 30 days.

On Wednesday, Minister of Mines, Paul Kabuswe, said that the suspension will go from February 23 to March 23, and that it was intended to enable for system cleanup and determining the exact source of corruption.

“Due to the technical nature of this assignment, the work will be undertaken by a cross-function internal team of officers with high integrity and competence from internal audit,’’ he told a press briefing.

The suspension could be extended for another month depending on the extent of the problem and the magnitude of work, Kabuswe said.

He stated that the new government inherited a rotten system from the PF, which has resulted in the continuation of corrupt activities, and that the suspension time will be utilised to fix the situation for the benefit of both domestic and foreign investors.

The ministry will in the next one month undertake an extensive audit on mining rights, work-study on the processes at the department, and internal reorientation for members of staff, Kabuswe said. President Hichilema and his team are following through on their commitments to restructure the mining industry and combat systematic corruption left by the previous regime.

This statement follows the recent announcement by Hichilema's Government’s that money seized by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will be used to provide bursaries for 2,232 students.

See full article here: https://www.openzambia.com/politics/2022/2/24/bursaries-to-be-funded-by-corruption-crack-down