Zambia Pushes to Turn Critical Minerals Wealth into Jobs and Industrial Growth

By Alain Kabinda

Zambia is intensifying efforts to ensure that the country’s growing critical minerals sector delivers meaningful benefits to local communities, businesses, and the wider economy as global demand for minerals used in clean energy technologies continues to rise.

This emerged during the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Zambia’s National Critical Minerals Strategy (2024–2028), where government officials, civil society organisations, industry players, academics, and development partners gathered to discuss how the country can transform mineral wealth into long-term economic growth and industrial development.

The Stakeholders meeting focused on strengthening implementation of Zambia’s Critical Minerals Strategy and ensuring that the country moves beyond simply exporting raw minerals.

Global demand for minerals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, manganese, and nickel has increased significantly due to the transition toward renewable energy, electric vehicles, and digital technologies. Zambia, one of Africa’s major copper producers, is now being viewed as strategically important in the global energy transition.

However, stakeholders at the dialogue stressed that mineral wealth alone does not guarantee national development.

Speaking during the meeting, Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) Executive Director Mr. Isaac Mwaipopo called for stronger mechanisms to ensure ordinary Zambians directly benefit from the critical minerals boom.

Mr. Mwaipopo emphasized the need for increased transparency in mining contracts, stronger community participation, and clear targets for local procurement and skills transfer.

“This is about ensuring Zambians benefit directly from the critical minerals boom, not just multinational companies,” Mr. Mwaipopo said.

He further noted that momentum is building around the need for faster implementation of policies that promote local content and value addition within Zambia’s mining sector.

The discussions centered on four major pillars under the National Critical Minerals Strategy (NCMS):

* Geological Mapping and Resource Development;

* Value Addition;

* Public-Private Partnerships; and

* Research and Innovation.

And speaking during the meeting Ms. Nafi Quarshie, Africa Director for the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), described the dialogue as taking place at a critical moment in global economic transformation.

                                                      (Ms. Nafi Quarshie, Africa Director for NRGI) 

She said minerals that were once treated simply as export commodities are now strategic resources driving industrial competitiveness and geopolitical priorities worldwide.

“Copper, cobalt, manganese, nickel and lithium are no longer simply commodities. They are now strategic assets shaping economic futures,” Said Quarshie.

Ms. Quarshie warned that Africa has historically exported raw materials while other regions captured most of the economic value through manufacturing and industrialization.

She further stressed that Zambia now has an opportunity to avoid repeating that pattern by using its mineral resources to support industrialisation, job creation, innovation, and economic diversification.

According to NRGI, the dialogue was designed not merely as a discussion forum but as a working platform to strengthen implementation of the Critical Minerals Strategy.

Participants explored ways of improving coordination among institutions, strengthening transparency and accountability, and ensuring communities and citizens play a greater role in mineral governance.

The dialogue also highlighted the importance of monitoring progress and ensuring that implementation remains measurable and accountable.

Opening the session on behalf of the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Minister Mr. Paul Kabuswe, Permanent Secretary Dr. Hapenga Kabeta said Zambia’s success would depend on whether mineral resources are transformed into tangible benefits for citizens.

                                                (Permanent Secretary Dr. Hapenga Kabeta)

“Zambia holds some of the world’s most sought-after minerals for the energy transition. The challenge now is to ensure those resources translate into jobs, value addition, and stronger communities,” Dr. Kabeta said.

The Ministry also presented updates on progress made under the strategy, including work on geological mapping and investor engagement, while acknowledging areas where implementation still requires acceleration.

Stakeholders agreed that collaboration between government, civil society, the private sector, and development partners will be essential if Zambia is to build a mining sector that promotes transparency, industrial growth, and inclusive development.

As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, many participants said Zambia has an opportunity not only to supply the world with minerals, but also to shape a mineral future that creates jobs, strengthens industries, and delivers lasting benefits for local communities.

NRGI Decision being made today about critical minerals will shape the global economy for generations to come. Demand for copper lithium, Nickel, Cobalt and rare earths is projected to nearly triple by 2030m requiring close to $600 billion in new mining investment by 2040.

And the countries holding the largest reserved are often among the world’s most resource department and many have historically struggled to fully leverage resources.

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