President Hakainde Hichilema has left for the United Kingdom on a three-day working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and promoting investment opportunities for Zambia.

In a statement issued by State House, the President is scheduled to meet His Majesty King Charles III in Scotland at the King’s invitation. The visit is expected to reaffirm Zambia’s long-standing ties with the United Kingdom, which date back to the pre-independence era and have expanded into wide-ranging cooperation.

While in London, President Hichilema will attend an investment forum that will bring together business leaders and policy stakeholders to explore opportunities for deeper economic collaboration. He will also hold meetings with UK Government officials to discuss trade, development, and partnership initiatives.

According to State House, these engagements are part of the Government’s broader mission to attract investment, create jobs, and transform Zambia into a competitive economy.

Before departure, the President posted on his official Facebook page, thanking citizens for their prayers and support, and confirming that the visit will focus on advancing investment opportunities for the country.

President Hichilema is expected to return immediately after concluding his official engagements.

Kobold Metals, a leading American Mining Technology Firm, has announced plans to construct Mingomba Mine, which is expected to be Zambia’s largest copper mine.

During a courtesy call on President Hakainde Hichilema at State House in Lusaka today, Kobold Metals Global Chief Executive Officer, Kurt House, announced that the Mingomba Mine Project to be implemented on the Copperbelt, will begin in 2026, with a groundbreaking ceremony planned for April.

He highlighted over 120,000 metres of drilling, more than the total done at the legacy Loop license since independence, following major exploration successes in the province.

“I just got to Lusaka from our Mingomba Project on the Copperbelt, and I am very pleased to report that we are firing on all cylinders, thanks to our remarkable local leadership and our essential partners at ZCCM-IH, the Presidential Delivery Unit, and various ministries, we’ve been able to move quickly and effectively.

He added, “I have a very exciting announcement for you Mr President, we intend to start construction next year, and we would like to invite you to be our guest of honour at the groundbreaking ceremony.”

President Hichilema has described the Kobold Metals-led Mingomba Copper Project as a flagship example of Zambia’s renewed mining sector, calling it an exciting time for the country as it pushes ahead with economic recovery and industrialisation.

President Hichilema thanked Kobold for choosing to invest in Zambia and emphasised the importance of continued cooperation between government ministries, the private sector, and international partners.

“In just two years, this project has surpassed what has been done on some legacy licenses for decades. That shows what’s possible with a properly structured, investor-friendly environment,” President Hichilema said.

He positioned the Mingomba project as a symbol of Zambia’s broader economic vision, particularly the revival of mining as a key pillar of national growth.

“This is what we intended to do when we came into office, to reconstruct the economy, and the mining sector was always going to be central to that plan, many of our brownfield projects were comatose, sitting on idle assets. We knew they could be brought back to life,” President Hichilema said.

The Head of State further referred to the Mingomba Project as a partnership that reflects decades of cooperation between Zambia and the United States.

“Our relationship with the United States is not in competition with any other. It’s our relationship, built over 60 years, and it must continue to grow beyond changing administrations on both sides,” he said

The President also urged for support in unlocking fairly priced capital for projects like Mingomba which he said was essential to realising Zambia’s full potential.

Minister of Mines, Paul Kabuswe, has hailed the Kobold Metals investment as a turning point for the country’s mining sector, describing it as proof that the government’s strategy to attract responsible, technology-driven capital is bearing fruit.

“This is the proof, like you always say, Mr President, that the taste of the pudding is in the eating. We now taste that pudding, this is the realisation of the vision you laid out in 2021. It is the result of how you traversed the globe to bring investment back into Zambia,” Mr Kabuswe said.

Meanwhile, ZCCM-IH Board Chairperson, Phesto Musonda, said the Mine, expected to produce 400,000 to 500,000 tonnes of high-grade copper annually, has already created 670 jobs, out of its 700 target before beginning the development.

President Hakainde Hichilema has called on Canadian experts and investors to develop green energy projects, such as green hydrogen and solar facilities in Zambia.

Speaking at the 4th Canada-Africa Chamber of Business Conference in Lusaka, the President in a speech read for him by Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga, highlighted the country’s need to diversify its energy sources following severe droughts that have impacted hydroelectric power.

ZANIS reports that Mr Hichilema emphasised Zambia’s commitment to partnering with Canada as an equal partner in joint investments across various sectors to promote sustainable development.

He emphasised that government is committed to transforming Zambia into an inclusive, and sustainable economy, emphasising that the country’s vision is clear and set to build a thriving economy that will improve the livelihood of its people.

“We are focused on creating an enabling environment for businesses to flourish, fostering innovation, and attracting both domestic and foreign investment,” he said.

President Hichilema strongly highlighted Zambia’s deliberate strategic position in trade, as a gateway to Southern Africa and beyond.

The President further echoed the proposed Zambia-Canada Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, which aims to boost investment flows between the two nations, citing that the country remains committed to the Zambia-Canada agreement.

He reaffirmed government’s commitment to concluding the agreement speedily in order to facilitate increased economic cooperation between the two nations.

“We are land-linked, not landlocked, with access to markets across SADC, COMESA, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This positions Zambia as an ideal hub for regional trade,” he added.

Additionally, he noted that though Zambia and Canada enjoy cordial bilateral relations, their bilateral trade and investment levels are still low, hence, the need for more collaborations.

“We are aware that the socio-economic development that we wish to attain as a country, can only be achieved if led by a vibrant private sector, partnerships and joint ventures,” the President noted.

Delivering her speech at the same event, High Commissioner of Canada to Zambia, Emily Burns, remarked that Zambia is adding hundreds of megawatts of renewable energy to its grid, freeing hydro power for households and powering a growing mining sector.

Ms Burns highlighted that Canadian firms are therefore looking forward to building on this progress by establishing new projects that will further strengthen Zambia’s energy security.

Singling out Zambia, she noted that Canada is the single largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), translating into 24 percent of its total FDI stocks that are highly accredited to investments in the mining sector.

Meanwhile, Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Director General, Albert Halwampa, expressed that good governance and Leadership is the reason investors are flocking to the country.

Mr Halwampa stated that Zambia has experienced a tremendous influx of various investors into Zambia due to its investor friendly policies put in place by the government.

With the foregoing, Mr Halwampa who called on delegates to invest in agriculture, energy, and mining among other key sectors, expressed that this gives a sense of what Zambia as a country could achieve.

Also, delivering his remarks from the private sector, Joe Lombard, Vice Chairperson for an engineering company known as HATCH, noted that he and other Canadian companies are proud to be in Zambia and look forward to future collaborations.

Earlier, Canada-Africa Chamber of Business President, Garreth Bloor, expressed excitement about fostering commercial ties between Canada and Zambia.

Mr Bloor stated that Zambia’s mining sector and rich mineral resources make it an enabling environment for Canadian businesses looking to invest in Zambia and the continent at large.

In his welcoming remarks to Canadian companies, Yosa Yosa, a Partner at May & Co, said Zambia is a partner in progress, citing the symbolic call to action made by President Hichilema, who noted that Zambia is ready for business.

Mr Yosa, welcomed Canadian companies to Zambia, noting that partnerships should be created between the two countries in fostering development and growth.

The two – day Canada-Africa Business Conference has already underscored the benefits of continuing to advance connections between Canadian and African communities.

Livingstone Mayor, Constance Muleabai, has been found with a case to answer in a corruption case currently before the Livingstone Magistrates’ Court.

This follows allegations that the Mayor solicited and later received large sums of money in exchange for the cancellation of property rates owed to the local authority.

According to court records, Mayor Muleabai is facing two counts of corrupt practices. In the first count, she is accused of soliciting K120, 000 from Monde Sumbwa, who is a state witness in the matter.

In the second count, she is alleged to have received K180, 000. The transactions are said to be linked to the cancellation of property rates valued at more than K300, 000 owed to the Livingstone City Council.

When called to respond, Mayor Muleabai denied both charges and dismissed the claims that she ever asked for or received any money from Sumbwa and maintained her innocence, insisting that the accusations were baseless.

After considering the testimonies presented so far, the court ruled that a prima facie case had been established, thereby, placing the Mayor on her defence.

This means she will now be required to present her side of the story, either by testifying on her own behalf, calling witnesses, or both.

The case has attracted public attention in Livingstone, given Muleabai’s position as Mayor and the implications of the allegations on the credibility of the City Council.

Analysts note that the proceedings could have a bearing on public confidence in the local authority, particularly in the handling of council finances and governance.

The matter is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with the defence opening its case before the Magistrates’ Court.

President Hichilema has re-affirmed the government’s commitment to implement measures to mitigate incidents in all the wildlife habitats, in order to protect lives and property in the country.

President Hichilema says the government is enhancing the protection of natural resources while enabling communities to benefit from sustainable tourism.

Speaking in a speech read on his behalf by Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Peter Kapala, during the Dantho Traditional Ceremony of the Chikunda people in Luangwa District, ZANIS reports that President Hichilema acknowledges the cases of human-animal conflict which have negatively impacted on the people in the district.

As one of the mitigation measures to the human-animal conflict in Luangwa District, he reported that the government has procured two land cruiser vehicles for the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to enable swift response to cases of human-animal conflict in and around Luangwa.

“I wish to indicate that the interventions put in place by the government are aimed at promoting the coexistence between humans and wildlife,” he explained.

President Hichilema was responding to concerns of crop fields being devastated and humans being killed in his chiefdom thereby threatening food security and human life.

The President further appreciated Chief Mphuka for the farming activities that are taking place in Luangwa saying the government has expanded its support to farmers under the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) and the Sustainable Agricultural Financing Facility.

He says these interventions have provided a credit window that enables more farmers to procure irrigation equipment, farming inputs, farm power mechanization equipment and livestock.

“These are unprecedented steps towards empowering our farmers and advancing the commercialisation of agriculture in Zambia and I assure you that government is making every effort to ensure that more farmers benefit from these initiatives,” President Hichilema explained.

He emphasised that the government will continue collaborating with the traditional leadership and supporting traditional ceremonies that promote peace and national unity in Zambia.

Meanwhile, Chief Mphuka has thanked the government for the developmental and social protection programs in his chiefdom citing social cash transfer and cash for work that have positively impacted many households.

This year’s Dantho traditional ceremony was celebrated under the theme, “Cultural restoration for national unity, peace and economic development in Zambia after 60 years.”