Jefferson Kapasa

The planetGOLD Zambia Project concluded a successful five-day exhibition at the 2026 Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka Province, held from 29th July to 3rd August under the theme “Fostering Trade and Investment.” The project used the platform to showcase research insights, Mercury-Free Processing Systems (MFPS), and ongoing efforts to transform Zambia’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector into a more formal and responsible sector.

On 29th June, the planetGOLD Zambia Project convened an Extraordinary Meeting of the National Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (NASGM) Technical Committee in Lusaka to continue reviewing the policy, legal and institutional framework and explore a pathway for the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector.

Mercury dependency in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) remains a major challenge in the sector and poses environmental and public health risks. Continued reliance on mercury not only threatens the health of miners and surrounding communities but also limits opportunities to participate in formal trade that meets international market standards aligned with responsible gold sourcing guidelines.

On 7th August 2026, the planetGOLD Zambia Project participated in a Government-led assessment mission to Lusangazi District in Eastern Province aimed at evaluating the area's gold mining potential while ensuring that environmental protection and responsible mining remain central to any future mining decisions.

Access to finance remains one of the challenges facing Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners (ASGM) in Zambia. With a growing population participating in ASGM activities, limited financial management skills, poor record keeping and inadequate business planning continue to prevent miners from accessing formal financial services and attracting investment. Without these skills, ASGM businesses struggle to grow and develop sustainably.

Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) contributes significantly to livelihoods in Mpika and Shiwagandu Districts, but the sector continues to face challenges that extend beyond individual mining sites. Environmental degradation, weak regulatory compliance and absence of a coordination mechanism among stakeholders often undermine responsible mining and sustainable community development. These issues require collective action rather than isolated interventions.

As demand for responsibly sourced gold grows globally, Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners (ASGM) are increasingly expected to demonstrate that their gold is traceable and mined responsibly in accordance with recognised international standards such as the OECD guide lines.

On 30 June 2026, The planetGOLD Zambia Project convened its Second Quarter National Advisory Committee (NAC) Review Meeting, bringing together key stakeholders to review implementation progress, assess resolutions from the previous quarter and provide strategic direction for activities supporting the formalisation of Zambia's Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector.

The planetGOLD Zambia Project has reached a major milestone towards establishing centralized Mercury-free Processing Systems (MFPS) pilot sites (Chisamba and Mpika) for Zambia's Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector following a technical visit to Appropriate Processing Technologies (APT) in South Africa to assess the equipment.

On 28th July 2026, the planetGOLD Zambia Project launched its Contextual Study Report on Zambia's Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) Sector, presenting comprehensive findings from research conducted across six ASGM sites in Mpika, Mumbwa, Chisamba, Vubwi, Lusanganzi and Rufunsa. The sites were selected to capture the diverse operational realities and community dynamics that characterise the country's ASGM sector.