Mingomba Mining Hosts Inaugural Service and Suppliers Fair, Ushering in a New Era of Collaboration in Zambia’s Copper Sector
A landmark event reshapes supplier engagement and sets a new benchmark for collaborative mining in Zambia
Mingomba Mining Limited, a joint venture of KoBold Metals and ZCCM-IH, launched its first-ever Service and Suppliers Fair, a landmark event that signals a bold new chapter for Zambia’s mining industry.
Held in Chililabombwe, the two-day gathering brought together hundreds of contractors, entrepreneurs, government officials, and industry leaders to explore partnership opportunities as the company advances toward full-scale mine development.
For Mingomba and its parent company KoBold Metals, a California-based exploration and technology firm, the fair was more than a networking event.
It was a declaration of intent: to build one of Zambia’s most advanced copper mines through innovation, transparency, and inclusive local participation.
“It Starts Here”: A Vision for Shared Prosperity
Addressing a packed auditorium of suppliers, contractors and business leaders, Mingomba CEO Mfikeyi Makayi delivered a powerful message of purpose and progress.
“It starts here. This is what good business looks like if we set the foundations right from the very beginning,” she said. “The mining sector in Zambia is back and it’s better.
We will be one of the largest copper producers in Zambia, and that alone will significantly change the economic trajectory of this country.”
Makayi, one of Zambia’s most prominent female mining executives, emphasized that Mingomba’s mission is deeply aligned with KoBold Metals and ZCCM-IH, the state-owned mining investment company.
Together, they aim to deliver what she called “one of Zambia’s greatest mining projects ever” a world-class copper operation poised to drive national revenue and industrial growth.
Minister Kabuswe Commends Mingomba’s Collaborative Approach and Highlights Local Content Framework
Gracing the occasion, Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Hon. Paul Kabuswe, commended Mingomba Mining Limited for demonstrating how responsible mining investment can deliver both community impact and economic growth.
He cited Mingomba’s contribution to improving infrastructure in Kawama Township, including the construction of a modern secondary school and the development of a new bituminous access road, as examples of how corporate investment can enhance quality of life in host communities.
“What we’re seeing in Kawama shows the power of partnership,” Hon. Kabuswe said. “When industry invests with a long-term view, host communities thrive, and the society becomes even stronger.”
He noted that such initiatives complement the government’s goal of ensuring mining operations create lasting value beyond the mine site, reinforcing investor confidence through collaboration and social sustainability.
Local Content SI: Strengthening Zambia’s Supply Chain Competitiveness
Hon. Kabuswe emphasized that Zambia’s new Local Content Statutory Instrument (SI) represents a significant step toward building a more inclusive and resilient mining economy.
“This framework is about enabling Zambians to participate meaningfully in the mining value chain while maintaining a business environment that attracts and retains investment,” he said.
Under the new SI, mining companies are expected to allocate at least 20% of their total procurement spend to local suppliers, a figure that will progressively increase to 40% as capacity strengthens.
“It’s a structured, predictable system that benefits both investors and local enterprises,” Hon. Kabuswe explained. “For investors, it provides clarity and confidence. For local suppliers, it creates a pathway for growth and partnership.”
He added that the framework was developed collaboratively with the Chamber of Mines and industry stakeholders to ensure efficiency, competitiveness, and transparency across the mining supply chain.
“This is not about restriction, it’s about inclusion,” Kabuswe said. “We’re creating an ecosystem where local participation and world-class operations can coexist and reinforce each other.”
He encouraged suppliers to focus on quality, fair pricing, and timely delivery, noting that these standards are essential to building Zambia’s reputation as a reliable mining destination.
“We want our local businesses to meet international standards,” he concluded. “That’s how Zambia will continue attracting high-quality investments and ensuring shared success across the sector.”
A Platform for Opportunity and Transparency
The fair served as a strategic bridge between Mingomba’s operational roadmap, and the ecosystem of suppliers and service providers needed to realize it.
From civil works and logistics to energy, real estate, and hospitality, the event showcased the breadth of opportunities available and the company’s commitment to fair and transparent procurement.
“We are moving rapidly toward mine development and construction,” Makayi said in a post-event interview with Copperbelt Katanga Mining. “It was important to prepare the market for what’s coming and to be open about how we’ll engage suppliers over the next 12 to 24 months.”
As the company enters a four-year infrastructure phase, the fair was designed to outline upcoming scopes of work, invite feedback, and ensure that both local and international businesses understand Mingomba’s procurement standards and expectations.
Tiered by Need, Not Size
Mingomba’s inclusive approach was evident in how it structured supplier engagement. Rather than categorizing companies by size or origin, suppliers were grouped according to operational needs from aggregate supply and accommodation to workforce management and transport logistics.
“This practical alignment helps contractors anticipate demand and ensures that Zambian SMEs can find their place in the value chain,” Makayi explained.
She also outlined key compliance requirements, including Zambian company registration, adherence to health and safety standards, and alignment with the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) framework, which promotes local ownership and participation.
“We expect companies to meet basic legal and ethical standards,” she said. “For semi-skilled and unskilled labor, we expect companies to hire from within the community and invest in local talent.”
A New Standard for Local Content
For years, Zambian SMEs have struggled to compete with larger foreign firms for mining contracts.
By positioning the Service and Suppliers Fair as an open, inclusive marketplace, Mingomba is setting a new benchmark for local content integration.
The company’s rapid growth underscores its momentum. Since its incorporation in December 2022, Mingomba has expanded from zero to nearly 700 workers, including contractors, a testament to the pace of exploration and the anticipated pace of site development.
Among its technical milestones: drilling Zambia’s deepest borehole at 2.7 kilometers and completing over 120,000 meters of drilling critical steps in defining the Mingomba ore body and preparing for mine construction.
Preparing for the Next Phase: Shaft Sinking and Beyond
With exploration nearing completion, Mingomba’s next major focus is now shaft sinking, a complex, four-year engineering process setting up infrastructure that will unlock the ore body and catalyze a wave of business and employment opportunities.
“If you’re sinking a shaft, you need to prepare the ground. You will need operators, dump trucks, cement, steel, aggregates,” Makayi said. “We wanted people to understand what the next 12 to 18 months will look like so they can position themselves accordingly.”
The fair became a space not just for networking, but for education and strategic alignment. Local entrepreneurs, in particular, welcomed the clarity and foresight offered by the event.
Makayi also addressed the logistical realities of operating in the Copperbelt, especially for international firms unfamiliar with Chililabombwe.
“Some companies know Ndola or Kitwe, but not Chililabombwe,” she noted. “You need to drive here, to understand what it means for your service delivery. It’s about learning the environment you’ll be operating in.”
Building an Ecosystem, Not Just a Mine
Beyond contracts and tenders, the fair reflected a broader philosophy: that sustainable mining is rooted in collaboration, local growth, and shared value.
“This is a way to build business, relationships, and networks,” Makayi said. “We hope this becomes an annual event, one that’s beneficial for everyone.”
Looking ahead, she was clear about what success would look like.
“Five years from now, success for the Mingomba project means we are moving into production. We will have completed our mine development, sunk our shaft, built our process plant, and begun ramping up production. That will be the highlight contributing to Zambia’s economy, paying taxes, and creating lasting impact.”
A Transformational Model for Zambia’s Mining Future
As global demand for critical minerals intensifies, Zambia is emerging as a strategic frontier and Mingomba Mining is setting a new benchmark for how resource development can be executed: transparently, inclusively, and with enduring national impact.
For CEO Mfikeyi Makayi and her team, this event is the foundational phase of a long-term vision. The partnerships being forged today with communities, suppliers, and institutional stakeholders are designed to support not just project success, but sector-wide transformation.
The future of Zambian mining is not only bright, it is being redefined.
