FQM and ZICA Partner to Strengthen Accountant Training and Professional Standards in Zambia
First Quantum Minerals Signs MOUs with ZICA to Boost CA Zambia Training and CPD Access in North-Western Province
First Quantum Minerals Ltd and the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) have signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) designed to enhance professional training, accreditation pathways, and continuous skills development for accountants in Zambia, with particular emphasis on the North-Western Province.
The agreements were formalized at ZICA’s offices in Lusaka and are structured around two strategic pillars: Practical Training Accreditation and Enhanced Skills Development.
Expanding Access to Structured Practical Training
The first MOU addresses a critical gap in structured workplace experience for candidates pursuing the Chartered Accountant Zambia (CA Zambia) qualification.
Under the agreement, First Quantum’s subsidiaries Kansanshi Mining Plc and FQM Trident will provide supervised, qualifying work experience for trainee accountants.
Key components of the framework include:
Accredited practical training placements within Kansanshi and Trident
Formal recognition of qualifying work experience toward ZICA certification
Oversight and quality assurance by ZICA to ensure compliance with professional standards
This structured pathway enables trainee accountants to meet certification requirements while gaining exposure to complex financial, regulatory, and operational environments within the mining sector.
Strengthening Continuous Professional Development in the Regions
The second MOU establishes broader collaboration aimed at raising professional standards nationwide.
A central feature is First Quantum’s commitment to sponsor and deliver quarterly Continuous Professional Development (CPD) sessions in the North-Western Province.
These sessions will be hosted in Solwezi, reducing the need for professionals to travel to Lusaka to fulfill mandatory CPD requirements.
As part of its sustainability and community investment initiatives, First Quantum will fund participation for ZICA members in the region, expanding access to professional development opportunities beyond its own workforce.
In addition, the partnership introduces a mentorship component under which experienced First Quantum finance professionals will guide and support emerging accountants.
Leadership Perspectives
ZICA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Bwembya described the partnership as a strategic milestone for the accounting profession in Zambia.
He emphasized that the collaboration directly supports ZICA’s mandate to promote professional excellence and expressed particular appreciation for First Quantum’s decision to extend CPD opportunities to accountants across the region not solely its employees.
First Quantum Country Manager Godwin Beene highlighted the mining sector’s role as a hub for professional expertise, noting that large-scale operations demand high concentrations of financial, technical, and governance specialists.
He underscored the importance of aligning professional development initiatives with operational needs to ensure sustained value creation.
A Broader Commitment to Skills Development
First Quantum has a track record of collaborating with professional institutions, including the Engineering Institution of Zambia and the Zambian Institute of Purchasing and Supply.
These partnerships reflect a broader strategy of investing in local capacity building across multiple disciplines.
The newly signed MOUs with ZICA further reinforce the company’s commitment to strengthening Zambia’s professional ecosystem particularly in regions where mining operations play a central economic role.
By expanding access to accredited training, mentorship, and regional CPD delivery, the partnership aims to deepen professional standards, reduce geographic disparities in opportunity, and contribute to long-term institutional capacity within Zambia’s mining and business sectors.
