Africa-Press – Lesotho. THE Minister of Mining Serialong Qoo says he is working hard to create a new generation of Basotho millionaires in the mining industry. Qoo said this last week at a mining indaba with Basotho who want to mine diamonds on a small-scale following the enactment of the Small Scale Mining Act last year.
He said their goal is to see Basotho engage in mining activities on a large scale. “We want to ensure that more Basotho own shares in large scale mining,” he said.
Qoo said they fought long and hard to ensure that the Act was passed in parliament, He said they also hope to create more jobs in the mining sector. Qoo said during the Covid-19 lockdown, the mining industry contributed more revenue towards the economy of Lesotho.
“We realised that it has the potential of spurring the economy,” he said.
He said they realised that after Basotho were denied the chance to mine on a small-scale some decades ago, the industry’s contribution to the economy declined.
“It is crucial for Basotho to make a living out of their minerals,” he said.
“Hence we are announcing this Act as effective,” he said, adding that Basotho can now start mining on a small-scale.
He said they will work with different ministries, departments and councils to ensure that Basotho acquire licences. He said this is open to every Mosotho.
The registration to acquire the licences will be conducted by the councils and village chiefs. He said they will go around all the districts of Lesotho to identify places where they can locate Basotho.
He said the ministry will further conduct training programmes for such Basotho who hold licences. Qoo said all the diamonds mined by Basotho will be collected for auction in the country.
Diamonds mined at a grander scale in the country are exported to Antwerp, Belgium, for auctioning. “We are working hard to ensure that all the minerals are auctioned in the country, including those from large-scale mining,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Lesotho Diamond Academy, Relebohile Molefe, appealed to Basotho to allow this new venture to be led by the youths. She said this has been his late father’s dream to see leaders engaging Basotho in this industry without political favours.
The late Mpalipali Molefe, who was the All Basotho Convention (ABC)’s ’Maliepetsane MP, is remembered for his passion for diamond beneficiation when he started the Lesotho Diamond Academy.
A small scale miner, Lebohang Ramone, said it has been more than 15 years since Basotho were denied a chance to mine on a small scale. He said they have been fighting for the enactment of a law that would allow small-scale mining.
“The struggle continued until the issue was politicised,” Ramone said. However, he said the sad truth about this is that there are more Basotho who are being killed each day in the illegal mines in South Africa.
He mentioned the case of an old Mosotho woman who was caught mining in South Africa yet Lesotho is rich in minerals. “This was so unfair to Basotho,” he said. He applauded the hard work done by Qoo to ensure that the diamonds are auctioned in the country.
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