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Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Paul Kabuswe, says Zambia is strengthening strategic partnerships with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to accelerate value addition in the mining sector and maximise returns from the country’s vast mineral resources.
Speaking on the importance of regional cooperation in a statement issued on Sunday, Kabuswe said Zambia and the DRC were uniquely positioned due to their rich endowment of copper and cobalt—key minerals in the global energy transition.
He said closer collaboration between the two countries was critical to the development of a regional battery value chain that prioritises local processing over the export of raw materials.
“When you export minerals in raw form, you limit their value. But once you add value, there is exponential growth in the returns,” Kabuswe said, noting that beneficiation would significantly increase revenues and incomes for both countries.
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He added that partnerships such as the Zambia–DRC collaboration were essential for ensuring Africa derives greater benefits from its natural resources.
The Minister also reflected on Zambia’s mining sector recovery, saying the country had made notable progress from a period of economic difficulty marked by declining mining activity and debt restructuring challenges.
“At the time we assumed office, the mining sector was depressed. We made a clear case about what Zambia intended to do and the results we expected to see in the coming years,” he said.
Kabuswe noted that Zambia’s turnaround was now gaining recognition across the continent and beyond, citing recent high-level discussions in which Zambia was repeatedly referenced as an example of mining sector resuscitation.
“The fact that Zambia is being mentioned several times in continental discussions shows that the world is beginning to feel the impact of the reforms and the positive growth recorded over the past three to four years,” he said.
He attributed the renewed confidence in the sector to policy consistency, improved partnerships, and the revival of major mining projects, adding that ongoing and upcoming investments would further consolidate Zambia’s position as a key player in Africa’s mining and energy value chains.
Kabuswe said government remained committed to ensuring that growth in the mining sector translated into tangible economic benefits through increased value addition, job creation and higher national revenues.
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