Why local content mining law is a necessity—Permanent Secretary, Kabeta

Mines and Mineral Development Permanent Secretary, Hapenga Kabeta, has said the enactment of the mining procurement law which seeks to prioritise locals in the mining supply chain is progressing well.

Kabeta said in Kitwe during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting on Wednesday that the local mining procurement law would force mining companies to buy goods and services worth K25 million and below from local enterprises.

He pleaded with the business community to allow the law to pass, saying it was in the government’s interest to elevate the participation of local companies in the mineral value chain.

Kabeta said, “the government wants more locals to benefit from the mining activities and this is a reason we are engaging the private sector to participate in the consolation process.”

The meeting was attended by Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) president, Anthony Kabaghe, Association of Mine Supplier and Contractors (AMSC) president, Coster Mwaba, and Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia (PTAZ) secretary general Benson Sakala.

Last year, Cabinet approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the introduction of regulations for preferential thresholds for local suppliers in the mining sector.

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