By KENNEDY MUPESENI –

PRELIMINARY data indicates that Mungwi District in Northern Province has copper deposits and the Government has urged residents to take advantage of that by obtaining small-scale mining licences.
Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma said preliminary data showed that the district had a lot of copper deposits but that the ministry wanted to ascertain the extent of mineralisation.
“Mineral exploration is not a one-day activity. This can even take three years. You saw experts here, they were collecting data which will be compiled together with the rest of the country,” said Mr Yaluma, who is member of Parliament for Malole in  the same district.
He urged youths in the area to acquire small-scale mining licences for them to economically benefit from the country’s mineral endowments.
“Youths should not sit idle but venture into economic activities, including small-scale mining. The locals can only benefit if they have licences,” Mr Yaluma said.
He was responding to concerns by John Musonda, a youth from Chimbola Village in Mungwi District at the meeting held at Chimba Basic School, that the district had a lot of minerals but that Government was not wooing investors to the area.
Mr Yaluma said mineral explorations took long to bear fruit, hence the need for residents to be patient.
Getting licenses would create a basis for future partnerships with foreign and local investors which would in turn benefit the local communities.
Recently, the Government embarked on mineral mapping to update data on mineral deposits as the current data is too old.
Only 60 per of the country is mapped while the rest is not.
Mr Yaluma said after data compilation a national mineral map would be developed for the Government and investors to know which area had what minerals and the amount in terms of deposits.