LUSAKA, Oct 28 – Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has appointed Brenda Tambatamba as the country’s new mines minister, placing a former labour minister with experience in the mining sector in charge of an industry central to Zambia’s economic ambitions.
The appointment was announced on Wednesday as part of cabinet changes following Hichilema’s re-election in August.
Tambatamba served as labour minister in the president’s previous cabinet. Before entering politics, she worked as a sustainability manager at Barrick’s Lumwana mine, one of Zambia’s major copper operations.
Her appointment comes as Zambia seeks to expand copper production to meet rising demand for the metal, which is used in electric vehicles, electricity networks and construction.
Zambia Targets 3 Million Tonnes of Annual Copper Production
Africa’s second-largest copper producer is targeting annual output of 3 million metric tonnes, nearly three times current production levels.
The target reflects Zambia’s ambition to capitalise on demand for copper as investment in electrification, power infrastructure and other industrial applications supports consumption of the metal.
Achieving the goal will require a substantial expansion of production capacity across the country’s mining industry. The new mines minister will oversee the sector as the government pursues its output ambitions.
Tambatamba’s previous experience in sustainability management at Barrick’s Lumwana operation also gives her professional background in the mining industry, although the immediate priorities and policy plans under her leadership were not specified in the announcement.
