Government is expected to open at least five mineral markets across the country by June 2027 to promote formal trading and improve market access for artisanal and small-scale miners, the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development has said.
Permanent Secretary, Dr. Hapenga Kabeta, said the initiative would provide miners with formal platforms to trade their mineral commodities while strengthening traceability across the mining value chain.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the 2026 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Global Conference in Brussels, Belgium, Kabeta said the initiative was in line with President Hakainde Hichilema’s address to Parliament on October 9, 2026, in which he emphasised the importance of promoting artisanal and small-scale mining.
He said small-scale miners must be licensed and operate within the law while adhering to safety and environmental standards.
“Mineral traceability is particularly important in the gold sector and other minerals to establish where commodities are mined, who produced them and where they are traded,” Kabeta said.
He said applying EITI principles to artisanal and small-scale mining would help ensure that Zambia’s minerals met international environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, strengthening confidence among international buyers.
“We are concerned over illegal mining activities which are sometimes associated with criminality, including drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms and the smuggling and use of mercury,” Kabeta said.
He warned that mercury use posed serious risks to water bodies, the environment and human health, threatening the livelihoods of local communities.
“Government working with law enforcement agencies is intensifying efforts to address illegal activities and improve security in mining areas,” Kabeta said.
Read More: Govt urges regional cooperation to curb illegal mineral exploitation
He stressed that mining must be conducted in safe and secure environments, free from criminal elements and illegal firearms.
“Zambia’s ambition to increase annual copper production to three million metric tonnes must be accompanied by measures to ensure that the benefits of mining reach ordinary citizens,” Kabeta said.
He said the Grow Zambia Agenda was not merely about increasing copper production but also about ensuring that growth in the sector improved people’s livelihoods.
“Government is interested not only in the volume of copper produced but also in the revenue collected by ZRA, the beneficial ownership of mining companies and the benefits accruing to local communities,” Kabeta said.
He said mining companies must maintain a social licence to operate by securing the support of the communities in which they conduct their activities. Increased production, he added, should not come at the expense of local people.
Kabeta also highlighted Statutory Instrument No. 68 on local content regulations, which seeks to create opportunities for Zambian citizens and businesses to participate in the mining value chain by enabling local suppliers to provide goods and services to mining companies.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
The post Zambia to establish five mineral markets by June 2027–Kabeta first appeared on Zambia Monitor.