Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Paul Kabuswe, has announced that President Hakainde Hichilema will officially open this year’s Zambia Mining and Investment Insaka (ZAMII 2025) on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

Speaking during a press briefing ahead of the second ZAMII event, Mr Kabuswe said the mining Insaka will run from October 6 to 10 2025, at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre under the theme ‘Unlocking Africa’s Wealth: Advancing Sustainable Mining, Beneficiation, and Value Addition.’

Mr Kabuswe reaffirmed government’s commitment to transforming Zambia’s mining sector from one focused on extraction to one anchored on beneficiation, innovatio, and inclusive prosperity.

“This year’s Insaka builds on the success of the inaugural 2024 event, which created a strong platform for dialogue among government, investors, industry leaders and communities,” Mr Kabuswe said.

He noted that ZAMII 2025 aligns with Zambia’s long-term development frameworks, including the Eighth National Development Plan, Vision 2030 and the Green Growth Agenda, all of which emphasize value addition, job creation and industrial diversification.

Mr Kabuswe noted that these efforts aim to achieve the national target of producing three million metric tonnes of copper annually by 2031.

He also highlighted government initiatives to streamline licensing processes, strengthen regulatory institutions and expand critical infrastructure to support sustainable mining growth.

“True economic transformation will only be achieved when mining benefits reach local suppliers, women, youth and host communities. We are promoting local content, skills development and technology transfer to ensure Zambians actively participate in the mining value chain,” he said.

He further emphasized Zambia’s strategic role in the global energy transition, particularly in supplying critical minerals essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy and digital technologies.

The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to enforcing strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards to ensure sustainable and responsible mining operations.

He called on all stakeholders to play a transformative role in positioning Zambia as a key player in global supply chains supporting the green energy transition.

ZANIS

Willah Mudolo’s Entry Reshapes PF Presidential Race

Zambia’s opposition Patriotic Front (PF) is undergoing a major internal shift as the presidential bid of businessman and philanthropist Willah Mudolo rapidly alters the party’s leadership landscape.

Mudolo’s late entry into the race has triggered significant activity within PF structures, unsettling long-standing aspirants and drawing influential groups to strategic meetings in South Africa. His campaign has moved from speculation to a central factor in the leadership contest, prompting senior figures to reassess their positions and revealing divisions over succession.

Internal party figures indicate that Mudolo has built support across nine of Zambia’s ten provinces, with Lusaka remaining the only major area of resistance. This level of support, consolidated within weeks, has surprised senior PF officials and increased pressure on acting party president Given Lubinda and Mporokoso MP Brian Mundubile to respond strategically. Mundubile, previously viewed as the frontrunner to lead the party into the next general election, now faces a well-financed challenger whose backing cuts across traditional factions. Provincial and district structures have begun aligning their mobilisers with Mudolo’s camp ahead of the party convention.

The PF Central Committee has recently focused on the implications of his candidacy. At a meeting dedicated to the subject, officials debated whether to reopen the nomination process to include Mudolo, acknowledging the scale of his support. Some senior figures support this move as a way to legitimise his entry, while others view it as a deviation from existing procedures that could affect the party’s internal balance.

Endorsements from influential figures have added weight to Mudolo’s bid. Copperbelt provincial chairman Stardy Mwale has publicly backed him in Lamba, citing his financial capacity and organisational strength as crucial for revitalising PF. The Copperbelt remains a key political battleground, making this endorsement significant within the party.

Former secretary generals Mumbi Phiri and Davies Mwila have also endorsed Mudolo, grounding their support in specific clauses of the PF constitution. They argue that the constitution allows a candidate to file for the presidency up to 24 hours before the convention, even without reopening nominations. This legal position provides an alternative route for Mudolo’s candidacy and sets the stage for a potentially competitive delegate count.

When contacted for comment, Mumbi Phiri declined to elaborate but released an audio statement defending the legality of the meeting involving Mudolo’s supporters. This indicates an awareness within the campaign of the need to address procedural concerns in advance.

Attempts to reach Mundubile and Mwale for comment were unsuccessful. Sean Tembo, spokesperson for the Tonse Alliance, also declined to comment, stating that discussions would be held at a scheduled meeting next week. The limited public responses from key figures highlight the sensitivity surrounding the PF leadership race and the close attention it is receiving.

PF chairperson Emmanuel Mpankata issued a brief statement maintaining that the party was not reopening nominations for any individual. He declined to comment on the level of support Mudolo has gathered, underscoring the leadership’s cautious approach as the race intensifies.

Willah Mudolo has, until recently, operated outside PF’s inner leadership circles. Based in South Africa, he describes himself as a transformative leader and entrepreneur. He holds an MBA in Finance and Sustainability from the University of Cumbria, an MBA from the Edinburgh School of Business, and an MSc in Finance and Accounting from the University of Salford.

His background in business and international exposure have drawn interest from sections of the party looking for new leadership profiles. His emergence comes at a time when PF is preparing for its convention, where the leadership contest is expected to determine the party’s next direction. Mudolo’s entry has disrupted the previously clear leadership path, introducing a new dynamic to the competition for the presidency of Zambia’s largest opposition party.

The University of Zambia (UNZA) has revealed that it urgently requires K173 million to overhaul its ageing sanitation infrastructure, which poses serious health and safety risks to students and staff.

UNZA Vice Chancellor, Mundia Muya, disclosed that the institution is grappling with outdated sewer systems, deteriorating underground infrastructure and invasive tree roots.

Professor Muya further noted that some original materials used in the sewerage system, such as asbestos pipes, are no longer safe for use.

He made these remarks during the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNZA and the Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA) Zambia, held at the university’s main campus in Lusaka.

He described the MoU as a milestone in UNZA’s journey toward innovation, sustainability and community transformation.

The partnership will establish a Sanitation Hub, which will serve as a policy-responsive knowledge centre for decentralized sanitation solutions.

The hub will focus on research, innovation and capacity building, while also demonstrating technologies such as anaerobic treatment, biogas recovery and wastewater reuse.

“This initiative aligns with UNZA’s 2023–2027 Strategic Plan and the national development priorities outlined in the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) and Vision 2030,” Professor Muya said.

He appealed to development partners and the private sector to support the university’s efforts, emphasizing that investment in sanitation is an investment in the health, safety and productivity of over 30,000 students and staff.

“It is essential that we lead by example by ensuring our own systems reflect the principles of inclusive and sustainable sanitation that we teach and advocate,” he added.

Meanwhile, BORDA Zambia Country Director Amanda Mallaghan expressed satisfaction with the strategic partnership, noting that it aims to address Zambia’s sanitation challenges through evidence-based solutions, particularly in the face of rapid urbanisation and informal settlement growth.

Ms. Mallaghan said the Sanitation Hub will act as a space for knowledge exchange, learning and practical research, bridging the gap between academia, practitioners and communities.

“The hub will give students the chance to work on real-world challenges, while ensuring that communities benefit directly from the innovations and research produced,” she said.

She also called for multi-sectoral collaborations to develop sustainable and lasting sanitation solutions and thanked UNZA leadership and stakeholders for their commitment.

Ms. Mallaghan reiterated BORDA Zambia’s commitment to making the hub a regional centre of excellence for sanitation research and innovation.

Businessman Opposes State Forfeiture of Lusambo-Linked Property
A businessman, Mukuka Munkonge, has opposed the State’s application to forfeit a property in Chamba Valley that authorities have linked to jailed former Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo. He told the court that the land and developments in question belong to him, not Lusambo. The ongoing legal proceedings highlight the implications of State Forfeiture on private property rights. Munkonge’s case represents a significant challenge against the authority’s attempt to seize property without adequate evidence. The tension between state power and individual rights is brought to the forefront, raising critical questions about the balance of justice and the preservation of personal property.

This was revealed during a forfeiture hearing held before Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili. Munkonge’s lawyer, Zyola Kakunka, testified that the businessman entered into a lease agreement for the property in 2018, which expired in 2022. He argued that the six incomplete blocks of flats at the center of the dispute are neither owned nor controlled by Lusambo, contrary to the State’s claim. The case raises significant concerns regarding the fairness of the State Forfeiture process, especially in light of how such actions can affect innocent parties who hold legitimate interests in properties that may be wrongfully associated with unlawful activities.

Munkonge said he had not committed any offense that would justify seizure of the property, urging the court to dismiss the forfeiture application. “Allowing the application by the State to forfeit the property will amount to unjust actions,” he argued. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future State Forfeiture cases. Should the court rule in favor of Munkonge, it may embolden others in similar situations to fight against unjust forfeitures, fostering a more robust defense of property rights across the nation.

Lusambo, who was jailed for three years with hard labor on two counts of possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, has also opposed the forfeiture. His legal team, led by Jonas Zimba, submitted that the conviction is under appeal and therefore not final. They argued that enforcing forfeiture at this stage would render the appeal academic and cause irreparable prejudice. This situation highlights the complexity of legal battles involving State Forfeiture where individuals face not only the loss of property but also the ramifications of criminal convictions that may not yet be resolved.

The defense further argued that the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act limits confiscation to the value of benefits derived from offending conduct. They said this does not allow for wholesale seizure of property that may include legitimate or third-party interests. This legal principle is crucial in maintaining justice, as it protects individuals who may be inadvertently swept up in State Forfeiture actions due to associations with others who may be involved in criminal activities.

State prosecutor Chawezi Nalwenga maintained that the civil forfeiture proceedings should proceed independently of the criminal appeal. Nalwenga argued that property established as tainted may be subject to forfeiture, even if the criminal appeal has not been concluded. This stance reiterates the ongoing debate about the separation of civil and criminal law, particularly in cases involving State Forfeiture where the burden of proof and the standard of evidence may differ significantly.

The court has not yet delivered a ruling on the application. The outcome will determine whether the Chamba Valley property remains under the businessman’s control pending Lusambo’s appeal, or if it will be forfeited to the State under existing anti-corruption legislation.