Zambia’s Hichilema Declares Africa’s Resolve to Responsible Extraction of Its Minerals

President Hakainde Hichilema has declared Africa’s renewed resolve in its approach to natural resources, stating that the continent has reached a firm stance on ensuring responsible extraction, as opposed to the historical pattern in which Africa supplied unprocessed minerals to global markets.

The Zambian leader made the declaration on Tuesday when he hosted the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan in Lusaka.

He stated that African nations are now committed to processing and value addition rather than exporting raw materials, a resolution reached at the recent African Union summit.

“We are speaking one language now – that we cannot continue exporting raw materials for centuries,” he said.

He advocated for discussions that will promote responsible resource extraction, propel sustainable economic growth, create jobs and business opportunities, and increase treasury revenues across nations.

Countries such as Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, and Zimbabwe have recently introduced policies aimed at local processing, regional value chains, and restrictions on the export of unprocessed minerals.

The Zambian leader said the time has come to deepen cooperation with UNCTAD beyond traditional areas, calling for greater alignment between the organisation’s domestic and international work.

He also emphasised the need for tangible outcomes from partnerships, citing UNCTAD’s support in Zambia’s debt restructuring and the rollout of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA), which modernises customs management in more than 100 countries.

Hichilema added that digitalisation and e-commerce must become central pillars of Zambia’s economic reform agenda, arguing that digital platforms reduce inefficiencies and curb corruption.