President Hichilema Reaffirms Zambia’s Commitment to Sustainable and Value-Added Mining
President Hakainde Hichilema has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to transforming Zambia’s mining sector into a driver of inclusive growth, sustainability, and national prosperity.
Speaking at this year’s Zambia Mining and Investment Insaka, held under the theme “Unlocking Africa’s Wealth – Advancing Sustainable Mining, Beneficiation and Value Addition,” President Hichilema said the event’s focus aligns closely with Zambia’s renewed mining agenda — one that aims to shift the nation from a supplier of raw minerals to a producer and value-adding economy.
“For over a century, copper has defined Zambia’s economy, yet our nation has not fully optimised its capacity to leverage this natural endowment for the prosperity of our people. This paradox is unacceptable, our citizens deserve value, not poverty,” President Hichilema stated.
He emphasised that the country’s mineral wealth must serve as a force for unity and development, not division. “Our mineral resources will be instruments of peace, not conflict. The wealth beneath our soil should unite and uplift, not divide our citizens,” he said.
President Hichilema further called for a continental shift from extraction to production, ensuring that Africa’s natural resources contribute to job creation, industrial growth, and shared prosperity.
Outlining Zambia’s ongoing efforts, the Head of State highlighted that the government has embarked on comprehensive policy, legal, and institutional reforms in the mining sector to promote safe, formal, and transparent mining practices. These reforms, he said, will ensure that economic activities within the sector are properly accounted for and contribute meaningfully to national development.
In addition, Zambia is diversifying its mineral portfolio beyond copper to include gold, manganese, nickel, cobalt, and lithium, all critical to the global green-energy transition.
“As we forge ahead, we reaffirm our commitment to making Zambia a model for responsible, inclusive, and sustainable mining, where every tonne of ore extracted translates into education for our children, opportunities for our youth, and dignity for our people,” President Hichilema said.
He concluded with a call for unity and collaboration, urging stakeholders to work together in turning Zambia’s mineral wealth into a true blessing for future generations.
