Zambian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening implementation of the Critical Minerals Strategy aimed at positioning the country as a key player in the global mineral value chain through value addition, strategic partnerships, and responsible mining.
Speaking during the official opening of the Dialogue Forum on Zambia’s Critical Minerals Strategy in Lusaka, Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary Hapenga Kabeta said Zambia is strategically placed to benefit from rising global demand for critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, manganese, lithium, nickel, graphite and rare earth elements.
Dr. Kabeta noted that these minerals are increasingly important for clean energy technologies, electric vehicles, and advanced manufacturing, adding that Zambia’s 2024 Critical Minerals Strategy is designed to ensure the country moves beyond extraction to full economic transformation through industrialization, job creation and sustainable development.
He said a key priority under the strategy is the strengthening of geological mapping and mineral resource management to improve data availability and support informed investment decisions in the mining sector.
Dr. Kabeta further highlighted government’s efforts to deepen strategic partnerships with regional and international stakeholders to boost investment and promote value addition.
He cited initiatives such as the Zambia–DRC Battery Council supported by Afreximbank, as well as Memoranda of Understanding with the European Union, the United States, and Saudi Arabia through Manara Minerals.
Speaking at the same event, Natural Resource Governance Institute Africa Director Nafi Quarshie said critical minerals have become strategic global assets shaping industrial competitiveness and geopolitical priorities, placing Zambia in a strong position as one of Africa’s leading copper producers.
However, she cautioned that mineral wealth alone does not automatically translate into development, stressing the need for Zambia to avoid past patterns of exporting raw materials without sufficient local value addition.
“The opportunity before Zambia is not simply about producing more minerals, but about transforming them into long-term public value,” she said.
The Dialogue Forum brought together stakeholders from government, industry, civil society, academia and development partners to chart a path for the future of Zambia’s critical minerals sector.
