LIVE: President Hichilema Opens 2025 Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining Conference | J Cool Exclusive

Meaning the country was sliding backwards. And it was evident that one of the major contributors of economic growth to our country, which is the mining sector, was dead completely. So you needed to revive all the big mining companies to get back to productivity. And no one can argue that up until this time, the production figures in the mining sector have begun going up. And it is evident through the numbers how that inflation has begun going down, how that economic growth is going high, projected this year to grow above 6%. It's because you had purposed that minister of mines, there will be no mining in court. We must bring the mining companies to the table, begin to negotiate so that they quickly go back into production because we couldn't see production by people fighting in court. As a result, KCM for OT to see production figures are going up. Mopani production figures are going up. Forgotten mines like Kitumba are going into production. A mine that was closed 23 years ago, Shaft 28, dewatering has reached very advanced levels. They will soon be going into production. Talking about more investment coming through NFCA in excess of $500 million being invested around the NFCA expansion project. There is a Kumba mine in Mumba, Mr. President, which was also riddled with legal battles and because of your policy of not mining in court, there it is will be going into production as well. So really I cannot forget to mention a mine that was shut down 43 years, which is Kalena mine. It's back on board. That has been revived as well. What am I saying, Mr. President? Now that you have dealt with the big mines, may I not forget the recently launched S3 expansion project which started under your reign in 2022. That's when the board decision was made because of the policy environment that you created and therefore S3 was launched. Big project Kansanshi will go to 450 to 500,000 metric tons production every year. As we are speaking, Mr. President, Lumana is doing their expansion in terms of the super pit. I look in the crowd, I see the ZCCM board here, Mr. President, reminding me of how that ZCCM for the first time has given out a check and earned 500 million kwacha as dividends to the treasury. I'm sure the honorable minister is smiling. This is because of the policy environment, Mr. President, that you've created in this country. So business is thriving. I remember you sending me a message about how they've profiled the performance of the economy of Zambia under your reign and the mining sector has been a critical component, a contributor to that projected growth of our economy. Now you have said, can we narrow it down to the gemstones, to the small scale, to the women in mining? Let us bring them on board. There will be no illegal mining. You have instructed, and when we were in Kansanshi you instructed that minister, I want a conference. I want to converge with the small scale and artisan miners. I want to interact with them because they are a critical component of what we are doing in the economy. Mr. President, this is your conference. This is what you wanted. Here are your miners. Please come and speak to them. With these few remarks, Mr. President, I now call upon you to come and