THE alarming rise of illegal mining activities in the country has claimed over 100 lives in less than a year. A few days ago, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines, Mr Hapenga Kabeta expressed concern that government’s efforts to curb illegal mining and minimise the increasing death toll is being hampered by the unwillingness of artisanal miners to form cooperatives and regularise their activities. He says government has extend an invitation to the “illegal miners” to come forward and register their activities, but no one has shown interest. PS Kabeta: “We have encouraged those young people who are involved in illegal mining to convert their interests into a cooperative so that they start participating in the mainstream economic...