The President of the Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, has confirmed his attendance at the Investing in African Mining Indaba, taking place in Cape Town from 9-12 May 2022
Newly elected President Hichilema secured a landslide victory in the 2021 polls before being inaugurated in August 2021. Previously, he was imprisoned for 127 days after the 2016 elections.
Zambia’s mining investment climate deteriorated in recent years as the previous administration pursued resource nationalism, leading to damaged relationships with investors and lower levels of investment. According to the the Zambia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, mining accounted for 79.5% of Zambia's total exports and nearly 31.4% of Government revenues in 2020.
President Hichilema hopes to restore confidence in the country as a mining investment destination and is expected to share his vision of a new dawn for Zambia, in which macroeconomic stability is restored and sustainable, inclusive economic growth is promoted. Believing that the mining sector can be an important catalyst for national development, his Government is looking to significantly increase the production of copper and other minerals so that Zambia can reclaim its place as a leading miner on the continent.
To support these ambitions President Hichilema has already introduced a friendlier mining tax regime and made clear his intention to bring stability to the sector, as well as ensuring regulatory fairness and the elimination of obstacles that stand in the way of new investment.
Mining Indaba is back in person this year with the programme content for 2022 geared towards exploring the key drivers of investment decisions within the African mining market and forging the future direction of the African mining industry.
The overarching theme – ‘Evolution of African Mining: Investing in the Energy Transition, ESG and the Economies’ – is set to inspire new approaches, spark conversations and encourage partnerships that will truly transform mining on the continent.
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