Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) is disturbed that some mining firms with mining rights have been operating in Zambia without being registered with the Patent and Company Registration Agency- PACRA.
Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Paul Kabuswe recently revealed that a current audit shows irregularities in the issuance of mining licenses in the cadastre department.
CEJ Head of Research Freeman Mubanga said it is strange that a business firm as large as a mine can operate without being registered.
Mr Mubanga said the development raises questions regarding historical corruption in the mining sector.
He has since praised the New Dawn administration which is keen in harnessing transparency and accountability in the mining sector.
The CEJ Head of Research has urged Government to probe how the development came to pass and ensure stringent measures to prevent this from happening moving forward.
Mr Mubanga calls on Government to ensure that the issues of beneficial ownership are heightened.
He said companies that have multiple mining licenses using the same names or different names must be prosecuted as the move is against the law.
