Zambia President Hichilema to deliver keynote at Mining Indaba 2026

Investing in African Mining Indaba has confirmed that Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, will deliver the keynote address at the Opening Ceremony of Mining Indaba 2026, scheduled for 9–12 February 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.

President Hichilema’s participation places Zambia firmly at the centre of Africa’s evolving mining and investment landscape, at a time when the country’s mining sector is undergoing significant reform and renewed growth.

His attendance comes as Zambia advances a reform agenda aimed at strengthening regulatory certainty, improving transparency, and modernising institutions to support long-term mining sector development. In recent years, the country has prioritised the rollout of digital mining licence systems, enhanced geological data management, and updated regulatory frameworks designed to reduce investor friction while reinforcing state oversight.

These policy reforms have contributed to improving global investor sentiment, with growing confidence in Zambia’s governance standards, policy stability, and commitment to predictable, rules-based engagement with the mining industry.

At Mining Indaba 2026, President Hichilema is expected to outline Zambia’s strategy for expanding copper and critical minerals production through technology-led efficiencies, responsible investment, and closer alignment between government policy and private capital.

He is also expected to highlight the role of innovation — including data-driven exploration and cleaner processing technologies — in strengthening Zambia’s competitiveness amid rising global demand for energy transition minerals.

Mining Indaba serves as a key platform for dialogue between African governments and the global mining and investment community. President Hichilema’s keynote address is expected to reinforce Zambia’s intention to engage openly with investors, development partners and multilateral institutions on practical pathways to sustainable growth, value addition and long-term resilience in the mining sector.

Investing in African Mining Indaba is Africa’s largest mining investment conference, bringing together governments, mining companies, investors and financiers from across the global mining value chain to promote responsible and sustainable mining development across the continent.