THE ADVOCATES FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT & DEMOCRACY (ANDD) IS OPTIMISTIC THAT ZAMBIA CAN ACHIEVE ITS AMBITIOUS TARGET OF PRODUCING 3 MILLION METRIC TONNES OF COPPER ANNUALLY BY 2031.
ANDD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAMUEL BANDA, SAYS POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MINING SECTOR—INCLUDING THE REVIVAL OF LUBAMBE SHAFT 2 AND THE REOPENING OF KONKOLA AND MOPANI COPPER MINES—ARE FUELING THIS CONFIDENCE.
HE APPLAUDED THE GOVERNMENT FOR RESOLVING LONG-STANDING DISPUTES AND CREATING A FAVORABLE INVESTMENT CLIMATE. MR. BANDA ALSO COMMENDED COMPANIES SUCH AS VEDANTA RESOURCES AND INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL JOB CREATION, ENGAGING LOCAL SUPPLIERS, AND INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES.
HOWEVER, HE STRESSED THAT WHILE PRODUCTION TARGETS ARE IMPORTANT, THE BENEFITS OF MINING MUST REACH ORDINARY ZAMBIANS. HE CALLED FOR STRONGER LOCAL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION, DECENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND IMPROVED LIVING CONDITIONS FOR COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING MINING OPERATIONS.
MR. BANDA RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY, URGING MINING FIRMS TO TAKE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS SERIOUSLY AND TO RESPOND TRANSPARENTLY TO INDUSTRIAL INCIDENTS.
HE FURTHER CALLED ON REGULATORS TO ENFORCE SAFETY STANDARDS RIGOROUSLY AND ENCOURAGED CIVIL SOCIETY AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO REMAIN ENGAGED IN ENSURING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
ACCORDING TO MR. BANDA, ZAMBIA IS ON THE CUSP OF A MINING RESURGENCE—BUT IT MUST BE INCLUSIVE, RESPONSIBLE, AND SUSTAINABLE, WITH THE WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT AT ITS CORE.