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Public policy researcher and former miner, Dr. James Musonda, has urged the UPND administration to shift its focus from reopening mines to ensuring that Zambia derives tangible economic benefits from its mineral wealth.
Musonda, a vocal critic of the government’s mining policies, said that while the ruling party continues to boast about reviving mining operations, it has failed to address the pressing issues of illicit financial flows and profit externalisation.
“I’ve heard the UPND administration say it has delivered in the mining sector simply because it reopened mines and secured an investor. But we must ask—how are Zambians benefitting? The country is exporting jobs through profit externalisation and illicit financial flows,” Musonda said.
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He criticized Zambia’s continued export of raw minerals without adequate value addition, describing the country as “notorious” for such practices.
Musonda also accused the government of allowing mining companies to negotiate tax incentives that deprive the nation of critical revenue.
“The revamping of Mopani and Konkola Copper Mines has been a disaster, judging by how these mines are being run,” he said, adding, “The government never listened. You can’t just talk about hitting three million tonnes of copper production without explaining how that translates into jobs or national benefits. We’ve mined for over 100 years with little to show for it.”
On renewable energy, Musonda urged the government not to adopt a narrow approach, warning against exporting critical minerals such as manganese, cobalt, and lithium without value addition.
“Every critical mineral—cobalt, manganese, copper—should feed into electric vehicle manufacturing by aligning with renewable energy and green industrialisation,” he stated.
Musonda also demanded transparency regarding the Zambia-Democratic Republic of Congo electric vehicle battery deal, calling for the terms to be made public.
“It’s ridiculous. You enact cyber laws to silence those asking for transparency,” he added.
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