Governance expert and human rights advocate Wesley Miyanda has commended President Hakainde Hichilema for urging mining investors to prioritise Zambian citizens in employment and business opportunities.
Mr Miyanda says the call aligns with the Grow Zambia Agenda, which requires collective efforts to ensure citizens participate meaningfully in all sectors of the economy, particularly mining.
He said investors should ensure that Zambians benefit from the economic value generated by the mining sector beyond employment by participating fully in business activities.
Mr Miyanda said Zambians were ready to contribute to the country’s development agenda, particularly the target of producing three million tonnes of copper.
He urged local contractors to ensure their companies were properly registered and had all the necessary documentation to take advantage of business opportunities presented by mining investors.
Mr. Miyanda also advised local businesses to keep copies of contracts awarded to them, saying Zambians needed to be adequately prepared to benefit from government efforts to increase local participation in the economy.
He further welcomed the President’s call for holders of mining licences to avoid merely displaying or selling them to large mining companies, and instead explore partnerships with investors who had the financial capacity and technical expertise to support safer and more profitable mining operations.
“This country must move away from unsafe mining practices, which have resulted in the loss of lives, and therefore, the safety of Zambian citizens should remain a priority,” said Mr Miyanda.
He stressed that the government was making efforts to provide the necessary support to licensed miners.
Mr Miyanda also encouraged financial institutions, including the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) and commercial banks, to help young people access financing for modern mining equipment.
He said meaningful local participation in mining was essential to achieving the objectives of the Grow Zambia Agenda and ensuring that the country’s mineral wealth benefited its citizens.
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