Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change has given Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining four weeks to come up with regulations on mining.

Following the increasing reports of illegal mining, the Ministry of Natural Resources the committee warned the ministry of unspecified action if it fails to police illegal mining and trade of gemstones and other minerals. The Committee’s chairperson Werani Chilenga said lack of the regulations is making offenders of illegal mining walk free, costing government millions of kwacha. “We have given them up to December to come up with the regulations because they have been telling us the song of soon for quite long.”

Chilenga also said responses from the ministry have not been convincing, so the timeline of 4 weeks will be a push. Meanwhile, unceasing reports claim that gemstones are currently being mined in the country and being exported illegally through Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania to Far Eastern countries.