By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
Government has introduced an online mine licence application system to increase efficiency in management and issuance of the documents.
Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development acting senior systems administrator Tabila Mazhamo said the ministry had been working on increasing efficiency in the handling of mine licences.
“We are launching an online application which will result in most of the transaction processes done electronically and to monitor the activities of licence owners,” Mr Mazhamo said.
He said this in a presentation during the recently held Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) forum in Kitwe.
Mr Mazhamo said the move would reduce the cost of doing business for mining houses in the country as most of the services would be accessed online.
He said companies would be renewing licences online, thereby reducing travel costs which they incur whenever renewing or making enquires.
Mr Mazhamo said under the new Act, the number of licences had been reduced from eight to about six, to increase investments in the sector.
With the online application in place, he said the ministry would be able to track licences which are dormant and take the necessary measures.
Stakeholders have been wondering why certain mining licences remain dormant and the Government does not repossess them.
However, Mr Mazhamo said the Government had been putting measures in place to avoid holding on to licences unnecessarily.