Zambia mineral sector development and investment

Zambia is focusing on enhancing its mineral sector through industrialization, increased foreign investment, and the formalization of mining activities.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has advised the country to transition from exporting raw materials to investing in domestic processing and recycling. This strategy aims to capture higher value from sectors such as gemstones and to position Zambia within the electric vehicle battery value chain. UNECA noted that Zambia currently spends approximately 0.25% of its resources on research and development in this sector.

In pursuit of these goals, India has resumed discussions with Zambia regarding potential investments in copper and other critical minerals through Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. Concurrently, Zambia Investments Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH) is working to formalize the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector, modeling Ghana’s GoldBoard to integrate informal production into a regulated ecosystem.

To further strengthen the sector, the government is implementing local content measures to increase the participation of Zambian businesses in mining, construction, and manufacturing. Dr. Hapenga Kabeta, Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary, emphasized that local content must move beyond simple procurement toward building the capacity of domestic enterprises to produce quality goods and services that meet industry standards.

Additionally, the Mining Appeals Tribunal is scheduled to begin operations on September 14, 2026. Re-established under the Minerals Regulation Commission Act No. 14 of 2024, the Tribunal aims to provide faster and fairer resolution of conflicts involving mining rights, royalties, environmental obligations, and regulatory misconduct. These reforms support the government’s target to increase copper production to 3 million metric tonnes by 2031.