Kansanshi Mine Partners with Stakeholders to Develop New Grievance Management Procedure
First Quantum Minerals’ (FQM) Kansanshi Mining PLC has taken a significant step towards enhancing transparency and community engagement by hosting a public consultative workshop to develop a new Grievance Management Procedure.
The initiative is aimed at creating a robust and inclusive framework to address concerns from both internal and external stakeholders. It reflects FQM’s belief that all its operations should be supported by fully functional grievance mechanisms that receive, assess, and resolve concerns in a transparent, fair, and timely manner, with meaningful stakeholder input.
Speaking at the workshop, North-Western Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Luckson Mulumbi, commended the mining firm for proactively creating a transparent process to resolve issues.
“Given the many issues raised by communities in Solwezi, particularly those around mine operations, the development of this procedure has come at the right time,” Mr Mulumbi said. “Once implemented, it will allow stakeholders to engage Kansanshi Mining PLC on matters that affect them.”
Mr Mulumbi, whose government holds a 20 per cent interest in Kansanshi Mining PLC through ZCCM-IH, stressed that the procedure should not be a mere compliance exercise, but a trust-building tool to improve stakeholder engagement. He praised the inclusive selection of participants, noting that their insights would directly shape the final framework.
FQM Country Manager, Dr Godwin Beene, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to open dialogue, saying, “What is good for the community is also good for business. This procedure will strengthen how we address and respond to concerns, ensuring transparency and fairness.”
He added that the mechanism would be culturally appropriate, free of charge, and accessible to all community members, with no barriers to raising concerns.
The workshop marks a key phase in the development of the Grievance Management Procedure, which will be co-designed with traditional leaders, community representatives, and other stakeholders to ensure it meets the needs of all affected parties.
FQM operates the Kansanshi mine and smelter in Solwezi, as well as the Sentinel copper mine and Enterprise nickel mine in Kalumbila. In 2024, the company produced 431,000 tonnes of copper, 139,000 ounces of gold, and 24,000 tonnes of nickel globally.
