Dr Hapenga Kabeta
Zambia plans to open at least five mineral markets across the country by June 2027 to formalise mineral trading and improve market access for artisanal and small-scale miners.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, Dr Hapenga Kabeta, said the initiative would provide formal platforms for miners to trade their commodities while strengthening traceability across the mining value chain.
Speaking in a side interview at the 2026 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Global Conference in Brussels, Belgium, Dr Kabeta said the initiative aligned with President Hakainde Hichilema’s emphasis on promoting artisanal and small-scale mining.
He said small-scale miners must be licensed and operate within the law, while complying with safety and environmental standards.
Dr Kabeta said mineral traceability, particularly in the gold sector, was important for establishing where minerals were mined, who produced them and where they were traded.
He added that applying EITI principles to artisanal and small-scale mining would help Zambia meet international environmental, social and governance standards and strengthen confidence among international buyers.
Dr Kabeta also raised concerns about illegal mining, which he said was sometimes associated with criminal activities, including drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms and the smuggling and use of mercury.
He warned that mercury posed serious risks to water bodies, the environment and human health, threatening the livelihoods of communities around mining areas.
He said the government, working with law enforcement agencies, was intensifying efforts to tackle illegal activities and improve security in mining communities.
On large-scale mining, Dr Kabeta said Zambia’s ambition to increase annual copper production to three million metric tonnes must be accompanied by measures to ensure that the benefits reach ordinary citizens.
He said the Grow Zambia Agenda was not solely focused on increasing copper output but also on improving livelihoods through mining-sector growth.
According to him, the government is concerned about revenue collected by the Zambia Revenue Authority, the beneficial ownership of mining companies and the benefits accruing to local communities, in addition to production volumes.
He stressed that mining companies must maintain their social licence to operate by securing the support of communities in which they operate.
Dr Kabeta also highlighted Statutory Instrument No. 68 on local content regulations, which seeks to create opportunities for Zambian citizens and businesses to supply goods and services to mining companies.
He said the regulations were intended to increase local participation in the mining value chain and ensure that Zambians benefited from the sector’s expansion.
