Zambia Hosts Historic Global Mine Rescue Competition for the First Time in Africa
Zambia has officially launched the International Mine Rescue Competition 2026, marking the first time the prestigious event is being held on the African continent.
The competition was opened on Sunday evening at Kitwe’s Garden Court Hotel by Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe. Running from 26 April to 5 May, the event has drawn 22 elite mine rescue teams from across the globe.
Organised by the Zambia Chamber of Mines, the competition will take place in Mufulira at the Mopani Central Training Centre and Mufulira West Portal, as well as at Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Charles P. Sakanya, Chief Executive Officer of Mopani Copper Mines PLC, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to safety, technical excellence and skills development within the mining sector.
He revealed that Mopani has made significant investments to ensure the competition meets international standards, including the installation of a state-of-the-art communications control room to coordinate teams, judges and emergency protocols in real time.
Additional upgrades include a dedicated waiting and briefing facility for teams, as well as high-capacity Wi-Fi connectivity and advanced monitoring systems at the Mufulira West Underground Portal. The competition sites have also been equipped with internationally recognised mine rescue tools such as self-contained breathing apparatus, thermal imaging cameras, search-and-rescue equipment and modern communication systems.
Mr Sakanya said the infrastructure was designed to ensure seamless coordination, real-time data transmission and enhanced safety oversight during simulated emergency scenarios.
“This competition represents something even greater. It is about the people, about safety, about skills transfer, knowledge-sharing and global collaboration,” he said.
He added that the legacy of the competition would extend well beyond its conclusion, with lasting benefits for Zambia’s mining industry and global safety standards.
Zambia is being represented by four teams drawn from Konkola Copper Mines, Chambishi NFCA, Lubambe Copper Mine and Mopani Copper Mines.
