Zambia's Minerals Regulation Commission has called for stronger oversight, transparency and accountability in the mining sector as it prepares its first Strategic Plan covering 2027 to 2031, according to LusakaTimes.com. The Commission set out its position at a stakeholder consultation meeting in Lusaka on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
For a country sitting on some of the richest copper deposits on the continent, this is about one thing: making sure Zambians, not foreign balance sheets, are the first beneficiaries of our own mineral wealth.
What the MRC wants from its 2027-2031 plan
MRC Director General Tom Hara told government institutions, mining companies, civil society groups, cooperating partners and academics that the Strategic Plan will provide a clear roadmap for strengthening mineral regulation and improving service delivery. He said the plan comes at a critical time as Zambia pursues an ambitious target of raising copper production to three million metric tonnes annually by 2031, a goal that Canadian Mining Report notes is paired with regulatory modernization, local content requirements and revenue-sharing mechanisms.
Dr Hara said hitting the target requires a predictable regulatory environment, responsible investment, effective mineral rights administration, environmental protection and strict compliance with the rules.
“The success of this Strategic Plan will depend on collective responsibility and sustained collaboration,” he said.
He stressed the consultation was not a rubber-stamping exercise but a genuine effort to gather practical contributions so the final plan reflects the realities and expectations of the mining sector. He named transparency, responsiveness and collaboration as the guiding principles of the Commission's direction, and called for stronger partnerships to tackle illegal mining, environmental degradation, mineral security, occupational health and safety, and the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining.
A regulator that answers to Zambians
The MRC was created under the Minerals Regulation Commission Act No. 14 of 2024, which the U.S. Department of State explains replaced the 2015 Mines Act and established an autonomous authority responsible for regulating mining and exploration licenses. That independence matters. For decades, foreign operators treated our minerals like a buffet, and the old system asked few questions.
Dr Hara said the Commission is committed to building a credible regulator that commands public confidence, earns the respect of the industry and provides effective oversight in the national interest. Those last three words, national interest, are the heart of the matter. Zambian copper must build Zambian schools, Zambian roads and Zambian jobs.
ActionAid Zambia pushes for people-centred regulation
ActionAid Zambia told the Commission to place human rights protection, environmental accountability, gender equality and meaningful community participation at the centre of its agenda. Business Development Manager Geofrey Sizala said the country's mineral wealth must translate into tangible improvements in the livelihoods of ordinary citizens, particularly communities living next to the mines.
Mr Sizala identified five priority areas for the plan: business and human rights, gender equality and public disclosure, formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining, domestic revenue mobilisation, and community participation and environmental accountability.
He urged the Commission to ensure mining companies go beyond ticking licensing boxes by demonstrating responsible conduct, protecting workers' rights, preventing pollution and addressing the concerns of affected communities. He also demanded better public disclosure of gender-disaggregated data on employment, remuneration, management positions and procurement participation in the sector.
On small-scale miners, he pushed for accessible licensing, affordable financing, better occupational health and safety, responsible sourcing and stronger market linkages. He further called for tighter oversight of mineral production, trading and exports, working with institutions such as the Zambia Revenue Authority to plug revenue leakages and ensure the country gets a fair return from its resources.
Mr Sizala said the plan's effectiveness will depend on measurable targets, transparent reporting and accountability mechanisms that let citizens judge the Commission's performance for themselves. That is the right standard. A regulator that hides its scorecard serves nobody but the operators it is supposed to police.
Oxfam backs the new watchdog
Oxfam country focal point person Chitimbwa Chifunda commended government for establishing the MRC, saying it will promote oversight across the mineral value chain and enhance transparency and accountability in the sector. When even international civil society recognizes that Zambia needed a stronger hand on the tiller, the case for national control of our resources speaks for itself.
What happens next
The consultation is expected to validate strategic priorities, generate recommendations, identify partnership opportunities and provide a practical roadmap for finalising and implementing the 2027-2031 Strategic Plan. The Commission says it remains committed to ensuring mineral resource development is carried out responsibly, transparently and in accordance with the law.
The stakes could not be higher. Zambia wants to triple copper output by 2031, and every tonne pulled from our soil must count for Zambians first. The MRC now has the mandate; the plan will show whether it has the teeth.
FAQ
What is the Minerals Regulation Commission?
The MRC is Zambia's autonomous mining regulator, established under the Minerals Regulation Commission Act No. 14 of 2024 to regulate, monitor and safeguard the development and management of minerals in Zambia.
What is the MRC Strategic Plan 2027-2031?
It is the Commission's first strategic plan, intended to set a roadmap for stronger mineral regulation, better service delivery and a mining sector that contributes meaningfully to national development.
What copper production target has Zambia set?
Zambia aims to produce three million metric tonnes of copper annually by 2031, a target Dr Tom Hara said requires predictable regulation, responsible investment and strict compliance.