Small-scale miners’ long wait finally over

Indigenous artisanal miners finally have a reason to smile. Government has eventually begun issuing mineral permits for extraction of alluvial diamonds from riverbeds across the country.

The historic step, which came into force effective from May 5, legalises alluvial diamonds mining activities and brings them into the formal economy.

This comes after exasperated prospective artisanal miners previously came out guns blazing, accusing the government of elbowing them out of the sector by introducing stringent requirements that are way beyond their reach.

They took a swipe at government officials for leveraging their knowledge of diamond locations across the country for their own gain.

For a start, the small-scale miners cited that the application process and requirements were overly complicated and hinder their ability to get state approval to venture into the lucrative mining sector.

They said these requirements extinguished the enthusiasm they had developed after then minister of natural resources, had pledged government’s commitment to assist them to obtain licenses for mining ventures, particularly in diamond extraction.

One of the misgivings previously expressed by the prospective artisanal miners was that opening up the mining would open the doors to foreign investors who would be unfairly favoured by the powers that be.

We can’t say their concerns were unjustified or unfounded, given the rampant corruption and culture of kick-backs that is so rampant in the highest echelons of power.

In the light of this, we share the small miners’ sentiments. We would not like to see foreigners in this business. After all diamonds are a natural resource which, like others, are a sovereign property of the people of Lesotho.