Salutations
(As read by the TI-Z Executive Director in the Formal Acknowledgements)
Good morning, delegates. It is my profound honour to welcome you all to the 2024 Zambia Anti-Corruption Conference here in Kitwe, a city that stands as the heartbeat of Zambia’s mining industry. This year’s conference theme, “Collaborative Partnerships for Combatting Corruption in Extractive Industries,” could not be more timely or relevant. It speaks directly to the pressing need for collective action to ensure that Zambia’s natural resource wealth serves as a blessing for our nation rather than a source of harm and inequality.
As many of you will know, the mining sector has been the cornerstone of Zambia’s economy for decades, contributing significantly to our national revenue, employment, and infrastructure development. The Copperbelt Province has continued to be at the very center of this story. This region accounts for the bulk of Zambia’s copper production, positioning us as a global player in the mineral supply chain. Copper, and increasingly other critical minerals like cobalt, are essential to the global energy transition, making the Copperbelt—and by extension Zambia—strategically important.
However, this prominence comes with significant challenges. Corruption in the extractives industry threatens the very foundation of transparency, accountability, and equitable development. It manifests in the form of revenue mismanagement, lack of effective benefit-sharing mechanisms with local communities, environmental degradation, and weak enforcement of regulatory frameworks. Such challenges undermine trust, distort priorities, and deprive citizens of their rightful share of the benefits of the country’s natural wealth.
As Transparency International Zambia, we have long recognized the importance of addressing corruption in the mining sector, particularly here on the Copperbelt. I am proud to highlight some of the initiatives we have undertaken in this region:
In September 2024, we facilitated a district-level stakeholder engagement in Lufwanyama under our Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Programme. This engagement brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including local authorities, traditional leaders, mining companies, and civil society organizations, to discuss critical issues such as benefit-sharing mechanisms, environmental governance, and local revenue accountability.
These discussions were tailored to empower communities with knowledge about ongoing policy reforms, including the Minerals Regulation Commission Bill and Local Content Regulations. An action plan was developed, equipping local stakeholders with tools to demand greater transparency and accountability in mining operations.
Our work in Ndola has similarly focused on fostering dialogue and collaboration around mining governance. Through partnerships with organizations like Caritas Zambia and local community representatives, we have addressed key corruption risks, especially those linked to the extractive industries’ impact on land, environment, and livelihoods.
These activities demonstrate our belief that addressing corruption in the mining sector in particular and the extractives industry in general requires a localized, inclusive approach that brings all stakeholders — government, private sector, civil society, and local communities — into the conversation.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, the Zambia Anti-Corruption Conference, which is now in its 5th year, is a critical platform for dialogue, learning, and collective action. This year’s theme emphasizes the need for collective responsibility. Government must implement and enforce robust policies, private sector actors must commit to ethical practices, and civil society must act as watchdogs and advocates for community interests.
Equally, local communities must be empowered to demand accountability, and international actors must support efforts to align with global best practices. Collaborative partnerships ensure that diverse voices contribute to shaping policies, expertise is shared, and that the fight against corruption is sustained across all levels.
As Zambia positions itself to take advantage of the global energy transition, the demand for our minerals will only increase. This provides us with a unique opportunity to redefine how the extractive industries operate. With transparency, integrity, and effective governance, mining can be a driver of sustainable development, creating lasting benefits for all Zambians.
As I conclude, I challenge all of us gathered here to make this Conference a turning point. Let us use this platform to deepen our partnerships, develop innovative solutions, and commit to actionable steps that will combat corruption in the extractives industry. Let us draw inspiration from the progress we have already made while remaining steadfast in addressing the challenges that lie ahead.
On behalf of Transparency International Zambia, I once again welcome you all to this year’s Zambia Anti-Corruption Conference. Your presence here reflects your commitment to building a Zambia where our natural resources wealth is used transparently and equitably, and where corruption no longer undermines our progress.
My hope is that our discussions over the next few days will inspire meaningful action and strengthen our collective resolve to combat corruption in extractive industries.
I thank you.
