Barrick Gold Corp., the world’s second-biggest producer of the precious metal, sees opportunity to grow its copper production in central Africa, especially with a pro-business government having won power in Zambia last year, Chief Executive Officer Mark Bristow said.

The company already operates the Lumwana copper mine in northwestern Zambia.

It considered selling that operation in 2019 after receiving interest from potential buyers following its merger with Randgold Resources Ltd. and Bristow’s appointment as CEO earlier that year but never followed through.

“The Lumwana copper mine in Zambia has been a real success following our merger with Randgold,” Bristow said in response to emailed questions.

“We see the central African copper belt as offering significant opportunity for our copper initiative and the new business-friendly government there is a breath of fresh air.”

Prices for copper used in electric vehicles and wind turbines have surged to records this month, intensifying the hunt for new projects to meet growing demand.

Interest in Zambia’s mining industry has grown since Hakainde Hichilema won presidential elections in August last year and began following through on pledges to revive the economy and boost employment by attracting private investment.

Pamela O’Donnell, Canada’s High Commissioner to Zambia, on Tuesday told Hichilema that companies from her country, including Barrick and First Quantum Minerals Ltd., were interested in investing in Zambian copper mines previously operated by Glencore Plc and Vedanta Resources Ltd.

First Quantum Minerals, which owns Zambia’s two biggest mines, said it has no plans to acquire the Mopani and Konkola copper mines, but is rather rather focusing on its own expansion plans, the company said in a statement.

Barrick hasn’t ruled that option out.

“We are already invested in Zambia and would consider further opportunities which meet our investment filters and leverage our established in-country investment base,” Bristow said.

Bloomberg

Luapula Province Minister, Derrick Chilundika has applauded Proflight Zambia for relaunching the Ndola to Mansa route.

Mr Chilundika observed that the opening of the route from Lusaka to Mansa via Ndola is beneficial to the tourism sector in the entire Northern circuit.

Speaking during the relaunch of the flight route in Mansa today, The Minister indicated that the province excited with the return of Proflight saying the coming of the flight which was last in the Province in 2015 will boost the tourism sector.

” As a province, we are excited with the coming of the flight route to Mansa, this is important to us as it will make it easier for both local and international tourists to visit the many tourism sites in Northern circuit, where we have some of the best tourism attractions in the country,” the Minister said.

He pointed out that having the fastest mood of transport in the Province will also spark economic actives thereby creating more job opportunities for the locals.

“The coming of this flight to Mansa is timely looking at the number of projects which are under way in the Province like the Convention center in Samfya and the Mwenda Kasomeno road project which will require that people move fast once they become operational,” Mr. Chilundika observed.

And Ministry of Transport and Logistics Director Paul Mulola says the Ministry has embarked on a program to open the northern circuit for tourism activities

Mr. Mulola reveals that works on the Kasama Airport will be completed soon and that money has also been put aside to work on the Kasama bay

He said Government is aware of the untapped potential in the tourism sector in the Northern circuit and that the ministry will continue to undertake projects aimed at opening up the area.

Meanwhile Proflight Zambia Director flight operations Josias Walubita pledged the company continued commitment to opening domestic routes across the country.

Mr. Walubita explains that Proflight Zambia wants to continue giving both local and International tourists an opportunity to explore the country’s tourism sector at any time through its flights.

“As an airline we have been operating in the country for 31 years and we remain committed to continue providing the much needed connectivity to everyone,” Mr. Walubita said.

Mr. Walubita disclosed that the Airline has scheduled its flights to Mansa for Tuesdays and Thursdays.

He has since called on people in the Province to support the airline.

The Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation-ZAFFICO has covered seven thousand heaters of plantations under its expansion project, Public Relations Manager, Ireen Chipili has said.

Ms. Chipili said because of its expansion project, ZAFFICO now has its plantations sitting on 55 thousand hectares of land in five provinces of Copperbelt, Muchinga, Northern, Luapula, and North-western.

Ms. Chipili disclosed that 48 thousand of the 55 thousand hectares of plantations are sitting on the Copperbelt.

She said as a result of the expansion project, over five thousand seasonal jobs were created, particularly on the Copperbelt in 2021.

Ms. Chipili said during the year the company employed a lot of people at different stages of forest management, such as weeding, planting, security, fire prevention among others.

Ms. Chipili added that the corporation will continue with the expansion and establishment of exotic plantations so as to continue contributing to the country’s economic well-being and to create more jobs.

“We are employing people in such areas. It will be interesting when you go to Shiwang’andu for example, you will find that people are no longer sleeping in grass-thatched houses.

This is because of the jobs that we continue to create, our people are able to buy iron sheets, cement, and other reliable building materials,” she said.

She said ZAFFICO is not only transforming areas in which it has set foot through job creation but also through the implementation of different tangible corporate social responsibility programmes.

Ms. Chipili added that through its plantation expansion project, the corporation is also contributing to the preservation of the environment and counter climate change.

Meanwhile, Justine Mulenga an employee in Mpongwe district said ZAFFICO has transformed his life such that he is able to support his children with school requisites.

Mr. Mulenga said he is also able to meet the health requirements for his family members besides being able to provide basic food commodities at home.

“I was just a mare villager who spent most of my time drinking beer with those who managed to buy. But ever since I was offered this job, things have changed.

I would say ZAFFICO has taught me to be a responsible and caring father and husband,” Mr. Mulenga said.

Minister of Agriculture Ruben Phiri has maintained that government will not ban the exportation of maize because the country has secured enough grain for national food security and excess stocks can go to waste.

Minister of Agriculture Reuben Phiri said the country also risks losing its position as an exporter of maize on the international market.

Mr Phiri was speaking at the women in Agriculture Conference which was held under the theme “Gender Equality for a Sustainable Tomorrow.’’

He observed that the country has been recording wastage of the grain because of excess stocks saying the population is too small to consume the produce.

Mr Phiri said that the exportation of maize can only be controlled to manage food security in the country.

He advised the farmers to venture into the production of cash crops such as cashew nuts and tree to avoid over-dependency on maize.

And Congolese High Commissioner to Zambia Chantal Konji Maloba said Zambian farmers need to follow procedure if they have to trade in Congo.

Ms. Maloba said it is not easy to trade in Congo because of the increased crimes as farmers risk to being crooked in that country.

She said there’s need for the farmers to create a business network before embarking on trade in her country.

She added that proper documentation and right procedures Zambian, farmers are can export their produce to Congo with ease.

Ms. Maloba said Zambian farmers have an advantage of exporting their produce to DRC which has a large market.

She further stated that the Ministry of Agriculture should engage its counterpart in DRC on trade.