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President Hakainde Hichilema has voiced concern over the rising number of fatalities in illegal and unsafe mining operations across Zambia.
Ten miners were killed, with 20 others feared missing, following a tragic accident on Monday, October 7, 2024, at Lwiili Mine in Mumbwa District, Central Province.
Speaking at the Zambia Mining and Investment Insaka in Lusaka, President Hichilema emphasized that the government was implementing measures to ensure small-scale miners operate legally and safely.
The five-day insaka, held at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Monday under the theme “Mining Beyond Copper, Celebrating 100 Years of Mining in Zambia,” brought together key industry players.
“So far, over 500 licenses have been issued to Zambians to embark on mining operations,” President Hichilema said.
He underscored Zambia’s potential to contribute significantly to the global demand for critical minerals.
The President reiterated government’s goal of increasing copper production to 3 million metric tonnes while encouraging diversification into other minerals to maximize Zambia’s natural resource benefits.
President Hichilema called on stakeholders to use the insaka to create a collaborative framework addressing challenges in the mining sector, which he said was essential for promoting economic growth and improving the country’s energy mix.
He also assured investors that Zambia’s policies and reforms were aimed at ensuring sustainable growth in the sector.
Read More: 10 miners confirmed dead, 20 feared trapped in Mumbwa mine tragedy
Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Paul Kabuswe, reported that Zambia had secured US$10 billion in mining investments over the past three years due to favorable policies and reforms.
He stressed the need for further investment to meet the government’s copper production target by 2031.
Konkola Copper Mines CEO Chris Griffith pledged KCM’s support for the 3 million metric tonnes goal, with plans to invest $1 billion over the next five years to boost copper production to 300,000 tons annually.
Zhanyani Li, Chairperson of the Chinese Mining Enterprise Association in Zambia, highlighted that the association had invested $3.5 billion in the country over the past 26 years and planned to raise this to $5 billion, targeting a copper output of 80,000 metric tonnes.
Lusaka Province Minister, Sheal Mulyata, expressed optimism that the Insaka would provide opportunities for stakeholders to explore innovative solutions to keep Zambia’s mining sector competitive.
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