- Hichilema appoints Brenda Tambatamba as Zambia’s mines minister.
- She is a former Barrick sustainability manager at Lumwana.
- Zambia plans to nearly triple copper output to 3 million tonnes by 2031.
- Industry wants stronger incentives and at least 2,000 MW more power.
ZAMBIA’S President Hakainde Hichilema has appointed Brenda Tambatamba, a former Barrick sustainability manager, as mines minister in cabinet changes after his re-election in August.
Hichilema announced the appointment on Wednesday. Tambatamba served as labour minister in his previous cabinet. Before entering politics, she worked as a sustainability manager at Barrick’s Lumwana copper mine.
Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer and plans to raise annual output to 3 million tonnes by 2031, nearly triple current levels.
Mining accounts for about 9% of Zambia’s gross domestic product and 72% of its export earnings. The Chamber of Mines says more than $10 billion in investment has entered the sector since 2021.
Industry executives have asked the government for stronger incentives for exploration and processing, and for more power. They estimate Zambia needs at least 2,000 megawatts of additional capacity to meet its production targets.
Hichilema won a second term in August with about 61.4% of the vote, the Electoral Commission of Zambia said on August 18. Analysts had expected the result to bring policy continuity for mining investors.
Zambia is also negotiating critical minerals deal with the United States, its foreign minister said on October 8, after the government separated it from a health funding agreement signed that day.
