THE Mines Cadastre Department says it is using the formalisation strategy to curb illegal mining activities in the country and has since licensed more than 200 cooperatives. Department Director Samuel Maango says the countrywide high resolution aerial geographical survey is a good development and long overdue. In an interview, Monday, Maango said the formalisation of illegal mining was an ongoing exercise. “The formula which the ministry used is to say we formalise illegal mining. So there is a formalisation programme going on. The gist is that we are a country endowed with minerals, and minerals are popping up all over. It has come to light that our local communities, especially in the rural areas – these so-called illegal mining activities...