Zambia President Levy Mwanawasa said Saturday his government would revoke mining licences issued to foreign investors who have not developed their mines.
Mwanawasa said large-scale mining firms held prospecting licences for mines across the country that had either been idle for many years or covered very large tracks of land.
"I am therefore instructing the minister of mines to strictly implement the policy of 'use it or lose it'," Mwanawasa said in a speech read on his behalf by his vice president Rupiah Banda at a mining show.
"The minister will terminate the mining rights of investors who are not using their licences," Mwanawasa said.
He said the policy will allow the country, one of the world's leading copper producers, to retrieve some of the mining areas, which will be given to Zambian businessmen in order to promote citizen empowerment.
A cross-section of Zambians have demanded that foreign mining giants not be granted large-scale mining rights without going into partnership with local businessmen.
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