5 new mineral markets coming – govt
By Adrian Mwanza
GOVERNMENT says it will open five new mineral markets across the country next year to promote formal trading.
Ministry of Mines permanent secretary Dr Hapenga Kabeta said the measure would improve market access for artisanal and small-scale miners.
Speaking in an interview during the 2026 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Global Conference in Brussels, Belgium, Dr Kabeta said the initiative would provide miners with formal platforms to trade their mineral commodities while strengthening traceability in the mining value chain.
“Small-scale miners must be licensed and operate within the law while adhering to safety and environmental standards,” he said.
He said mineral traceability was important in the gold sector to establish where commodities were mined, who produced them and where they were traded.
“Applying EITI principles to artisanal and small-scale mining would help ensure that Zambia’s minerals meet international environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, thereby strengthening confidence among international buyers,” he said.
Dr. Kabeta also expressed concern over illegal mining activities, which he said was associated with criminality, including drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms and the smuggling and use of mercury.
He warned that mercury use posed serious risks to water bodies, the environment and human health, threatening the livelihoods of local communities.
Dr. Kabeta said government, working with law enforcement agencies, was intensifying efforts to address illegal activities and improve security in mining areas.
He said mining must be conducted in safe and secure environments, free from criminal elements and illegal firearms.
Meanwhile, Dr Kabeta said Zambia’s ambition to increase the annual copper production to three million metric tonnes must be accompanied by measures to ensure that the benefits of mining reach ordinary citizens.
He said the Grow Zambia Agenda was not merely about increasing copper production, but also ensuring that growth in the sector improved people’s livelihoods.
“Government is interested not only in the volume of copper produced, but also in the revenue collected by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), the beneficial ownership of mining companies and the benefits accruing to local communities,” he said.
Dr Kabeta said mining companies must maintain a social licence to operate by securing the support of communities in which they conduct their activities.
He said increased copper production should not come at the expense of local people, who were important stakeholders in the mining sector.
Dr Kabeta said locals would only benefit if Statutory Instrument Number 68 on local content regulations was respected and implemented.
He said the SI seeks to create opportunities for Zambian citizens and businesses to participate in the mining value chain.
“…the regulations will enable local suppliers to provide goods and services to mining companies and that will ensure that Zambians benefit from the sector’s growth,” he said.
