MIASA position statement on artisanal and small-scale miners

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Created: Monday, 10 November 2025 09:12

MIASA recognizes that not all SADC Member states have a legislative framework and policy governing the existence of ASM. In member states where there is no legislative framework governing the existence of ASM, all their activities shall be regarded as criminal activity. In member states where there is a legislative framework the rule of law must prevail to maintain the integrity of the mining industry.

MIASA is of the view that where a government considers putting in place a legislative framework for the existence of ASM, the following conditions need to be in place:

• The rule of law needs to apply and abide by all statutes including land and property rights.
• Where a sovereign state endorses Small Scale mining there must be policies related to small scale mining at country level.
• MIASA supports the fact that the Mining Industry can co-exist with licensed artisanal mining where legislation and policies enable artisanal miners to upgrade to small-scale with all safety protocols.
• MIASA should support the formalization/regularization of artisanal mining for the purpose of safety, responsible and sustainable mining.
• Governments must clarify the difference and thresholds between Artisanal Mining and Small-scale mining.
• Country level legislative framework and policy must cross reference associated domestic policy and legislation to regional and international treaties and protocols (e.g. AMV, RMV, World Bank Guidelines, ILO Convention, etc. as well as local policies related to environment; water use; safety, child labour and gender)
• For diversity of minerals endowments demands there must be a nuanced policy that is tailored to country specific strategies.
• Governments must develop comprehensive data on Artisanal Miners and Small-scale Miners to ensure an inclusive policy for all.
• There must be appropriate alignment and integration with primary mining and minerals policy.
• Governments must embrace legitimate but prohibit illegitimate mining activities.
• Governments should also consider enabling mechanisms for ASMs by implementing the following institutional frameworks: streamlined licensing procedures; Education of ASMs regarding the benefits of formalization; technical training; creation of a platform for access to finance and credit; promotion of formal access to markets; promotion of cooperative mining; compliance monitoring; and monitoring and evaluation for measuring ASM policy impact.
• There also needs to be consideration of key drivers of ASM for sustainable mining (such drivers as cost benefit and economies of scale and economic success.)