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The Mine Suppliers Association has raised concerns over the continued sidelining of local suppliers and contractors by mining companies operating in the country.
Association President, Costa Mwaba described the practice as a deliberate move that posed a threat to Zambia’s economic growth, as local suppliers played a critical role in driving the national economy.
Speaking during an appearance on Millennium TV’s Business Day programme on Friday, Mwaba noted that when local suppliers were fully engaged, more money circulates within the domestic economy, creating jobs and fostering business growth.
He urged the government to urgently address the matter, highlighting that while investors often pledge to involve local businesses when taking over mining operations, such promises are rarely fulfilled.
Mwaba further called on the government to enforce policies ensuring that contracts reserved for local suppliers were awarded accordingly, rather than being diverted to foreign entities.
In addition, he proposed the introduction of a policy setting a threshold for the minimum value of contracts to be preserved specifically for Zambian contractors in the mining sector.
He argued that such a measure would boost local participation in one of the country’s key economic sectors and ensure that Zambian suppliers benefit meaningfully from the mining value chain.
Meanwhile, Mwaba commended the few Zambian suppliers who had successfully secured contracts with mining firms, claiming that they had consistently exceeded expectations and demonstrated that the necessary local capacity existed.
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