New Initiative for People-Centered Mining

Civil society forms Zambia Mining Caucus to ensure local communities benefit from the country’s mineral wealth

By Francis Maingaila

 Lusaka, Zambia24 – (18 November 2025) – Civil society organizations have launched a new initiative aimed at ensuring Zambia’s mineral wealth benefits local communities.

The Zambia Mining Caucus, a partnership between Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARW) and Publish What You Pay Zambia, will serve as a non-partisan platform to influence mining policies, ensuring they are people-centered, inclusive, and practical.

The initiative comes amid concerns that Zambians are largely excluded from the economic benefits of the country’s mineral resources. 

Communities are often consulted during policy development but rarely see their input reflected in final regulations.

The Caucus will provide analysis and recommendations on the Draft Statutory Instrument (SI) on Critical Minerals Regulations, part of the government’s Critical Minerals Strategy.

Collaboration Across Sectors

Edward Lange, Senior Programs Officer at SARW, said the Caucus is designed to strengthen collaboration between government, civil society, and industry.

“Communities are too often consulted in name only. This time, we are contributing resources and expertise at every stage to ensure that our inputs are incorporated into final policies,” Lange said.

Lange also highlighted challenges facing universities and students seeking practical mining experience. Privatization of mining companies has limited attachment opportunities, leaving graduates underprepared for employment in the sector. 

Proposals are being considered to grant universities mining licenses to establish training facilities for students.

Lange said the Caucus will guide government processes, producing evidence-based recommendations that prioritize local communities rather than just investors or elites.

Challenges Facing Local Miners

Pauline Sialumba Mundia, Chairperson of the Women in Extractive Industrial Trade and Value Addition Association of Zambia, spoke at 10:55 am on the challenges and opportunities in Zambia’s mineral sector.

She highlighted that Zambia is not fully benefiting from its mineral wealth because many people are unaware of the resources available.

“When you talk about copper, manganese, or even lithium, very few people know what these minerals really look like or their value,” Mundia said. 

“I have worked in the gemstone sector for over 30 years, and for a long time we ignored lithium because it appeared as a byproduct of amethyst. 

We thought it was worthless and would discard it. It took foreign investors, like some Chinese buyers, to recognise that lithium was more valuable than the amethyst we prized.

They came in, bought it at a high price, and profited, while we did not benefit.”

She explained that a major problem is that Zambians do not fully know the minerals in their communities. As a result, many enter the mining sector with the sole aim of making money, without understanding the challenges involved.

“The challenges start with limited access to appropriate finance, lack of mechanisation, environmental concerns, and health risks,” she said.

 “Market access is also a big issue. Most miners don’t know where to sell their products. 

Currently, Mundia said only a few marketing mechanisms exist, and these mostly benefit certain minerals like gemstones. Other developmental minerals, such as sandstones or domain-specific minerals, remain largely unmarketed.”

Mundia emphasised the need for awareness and education: “Young people, especially those who attend university, are often reluctant to go to rural areas where these minerals are located. We need aggressive awareness campaigns to ensure that Zambians know what resources are available in their localities.”

She also called on the government to implement specific policies to support the sector, particularly focusing on local and small-scale mining. 

“A dedicated policy should address these challenges, and government departments responsible for mining should align their work with such a policy,” she concluded.

Youth Miners Struggle

Speaking on Monday, Mwangala Luywa, Chairperson of the Youth Miner Association of Zambia, said miners face significant challenges in extracting minerals, particularly women working in remote areas.

“Even at the artisanal level, miners don’t have the tools they need. The government introduced a policy to loan equipment about two years ago, but up to now, we haven’t seen these resources actually reach the general miners in the field,” Luywa said.

He cited his recent visit to Southern Province, where he witnessed women manually extracting minerals deep in the mountains. 

“If the government implements a policy, we are suggesting that these equipment loans should directly reach these miners so they can work efficiently, increase their productivity, and ultimately improve their livelihoods,” he added.

The Youth Miner Association said facilitating access to equipment would not only improve working conditions but also help miners generate higher incomes, contributing to local economic development.

A Collective Effort for Inclusive Policies

The engagement brought together more than 20 organizations, including miners, workers, academics, and environmental specialists, to provide input on inclusive and practical policy frameworks. 

Stakeholders said the initiative could be a turning point for Zambia’s mining sector, ensuring that the country’s mineral wealth translates into tangible benefits for its citizens.

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