Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Hon. Brenda M. Tambatamba, has challenged ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) to play a leading role in driving the Government’s Grow Zambia Agenda, particularly the ambitious target of producing three million metric tonnes of copper annually by 2031.

Speaking during her engagement with the company’s management and staff, Ms. Tambatamba said ZCCM-IH remained a strategic player in Zambia’s mining industry and must fully embrace its responsibility in advancing national economic development.

Ms. Tambatamba emphasised the importance of teamwork, accountability and effective leadership, urging every employee to understand how their individual roles contribute to achieving the country’s development aspirations. She likened the national development agenda to a football team, where every player must understand their position and work collectively towards scoring goals. She further called on the company to strengthen its strategic planning, invest in human capital and utilise the expertise of its scientists, professionals and strategists to deliver meaningful results.

Meanwhile, ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer, Kakenenwa Muyangwa, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the Government’s targets of producing three million tonnes of copper annually by 2031 and generating 10,000 megawatts of electricity by 2030.

He said the company’s investments across the mining and energy sectors, including copper, cobalt, coal and power, positioned it as an important contributor to Zambia’s economic growth.

Mr Muyangwa also highlighted ZCCM-IH’s commitment to industrialisation and value addition as key drivers of job creation, particularly for young people.

He further disclosed that ZCCM-IH had consistently paid dividends to its shareholders, including the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Ministry of Finance and National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA), for the past 12 years.

Mr Muyangwa said the company remained committed to working closely with Government to unlock the full potential of Zambia’s mineral and energy resources.

The engagement comes at a critical time as Zambia intensifies efforts to expand copper production, strengthen local industries and accelerate economic transformation under the Grow Zambia Agenda.