Zambia Turns to Botswana for Lessons on Mining Local Content

Zambia Looks to Botswana for Lessons as Mining Local Content Rules Take Effect

Zambia is looking to lessons from Botswana as it seeks to strengthen local participation in mining and ensure that the sector generates greater economic benefits for Zambian businesses.

The move comes as Zambia implements its Geological and Minerals Development (Local Content) Regulations, 2025, which took effect in January 2026 and require mining companies to prioritise local suppliers while progressively increasing procurement from qualifying Zambian businesses.

However, the success of the framework will depend on whether local companies have the capacity to compete for mining contracts.

This is where Botswana’s experience offers important lessons. The country has increasingly used its mining industry to promote local businesses, skills development, value addition and broader economic diversification.

For Zambia, a key priority will be linking local procurement requirements with supplier development programmes.

Many small and medium-sized businesses still face challenges accessing finance, technology, technical skills, certification and the equipment needed to meet mining industry standards.

Mining companies and government agencies could help address these gaps through financing initiatives, technical training, mentorship and partnerships that enable local suppliers to expand their capabilities.

Skills development is another important component. Local content should not only increase the number of Zambian companies winning contracts but also strengthen the domestic workforce and support the transfer of technical expertise into the local economy.

The policy also presents an opportunity to develop local manufacturing and value addition.

Rather than relying heavily on companies that simply import and resell mining products, Zambia could encourage domestic production of equipment, consumables and other goods required by the mining industry.

This could retain more mining expenditure within the country, create jobs and build industries capable of serving the sector over the long term.

With Zambia targeting major growth in copper production, a stronger domestic supplier base could become increasingly important to the expansion of the mining industry.

The experience of Botswana highlights that effective local content is about more than procurement targets. It requires competitive businesses, skilled workers, access to finance, technology and consistent collaboration between government, mining companies and local suppliers.

If Zambia can combine its new regulations with effective supplier development and industrial policies, local content could become an important driver of job creation, business growth and mining-led industrialisation.