THE Minerals Regulation Commission (MRC) has called for strengthened regulatory oversight, transparency, accountability and stakeholder collaboration to enhance the governance and management of Zambia’s mineral resources. The Commission says its inaugural Strategic Plan for 2027–2031 will provide a clear roadmap for strengthening mineral regulation, improving service delivery and ensuring that the country’s mineral wealth contributes […]

THE Minerals Regulation Commission (MRC) has called for strengthened regulatory oversight, transparency, accountability and stakeholder collaboration to enhance the governance and management of Zambia’s mineral resources.

The Commission says its inaugural Strategic Plan for 2027–2031 will provide a clear roadmap for strengthening mineral regulation, improving service delivery and ensuring that the country’s mineral wealth contributes meaningfully to sustainable national development.

MRC Director General, Tom Hara said this during a stakeholder engagement and consultation meeting on the draft Strategic Plan in Lusaka, which brought together representatives of Government institutions, mining companies, civil society organisations, cooperating partners, academia and other stakeholders.

Dr Hara said the development of the Strategic Plan comes at a critical time when Zambia is pursuing an ambitious target of increasing copper production to three million metric tonnes annually by 2031.

“The success of this Strategic Plan will depend on collective responsibility and sustained collaboration,” he said.

Dr Hara identified transparency, responsiveness and collaboration as the guiding principles of the Commission’s strategic direction, emphasising the importance of fair, accountable and predictable regulatory processes.

Meanwhile, ActionAid Zambia has urged the Mineral Regulation Commission to place human rights protection, environmental accountability, gender equality and meaningful community participation at the centre of its regulatory agenda.

ActionAid Zambia Business Development Manager, Geofrey Sizala, said the country’s mineral wealth must translate into tangible improvements in the livelihoods of ordinary citizens, particularly communities directly affected by mining activities. 

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