GOVT URGED TO REALIGN ITS ANNUAL COPPER PRODUCTION TARGETS

Social Anthropologist Dr James Musonda has urged the government to realign its mining policy and annual copper production targets following revelations that Zambia can only achieve half the figures envisaged with the available assets.

Zambia Chamber of Mines Chief Executive Officer Sokwani Chilembo recently told the EU-Zambia Business Forum that the country can only achieve half the government copper production targets and needs greenfield mines to achieve the other half.

With the government targeting 3 million tons of copper production by 2031, Dr. Musonda says this new information illustrates a lack of focus on the part of the state regarding mining policies.

Dr. Musonda believes the government set a target without well researched information from the sector and says the chamber of mines information can now help the country to set realistic production targets.

He has further called on the government to quickly develop a beneficiation mechanism that will allow Zambia to get more from the mineral resources even as experts advise that the country spend around $200 million annually on exploration.