Lusaka, Zambia, 01 June, 2026- Government has warned that it will no longer spend public resources on rescue operations involving individuals engaged in illegal mining activities.
Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary Dr. Hapenga Kabeta said Government has repeatedly emphasized the need for miners to operate in safe, formal, legal and environmentally compliant mining environments.
Dr. Kabeta stated that illegal mining not only endangers the lives of those involved but also places a significant burden on Government resources whenever rescue operations become necessary.
"We have spoken enough about the need for people to conduct mining in a safe, formal, legal and environmentally safe manner. If a mine collapses on you while conducting illegal mining activities, you are on your own," Dr. Kabeta warned.
The Permanent Secretary made the remarks during a visit to Matala Gold Mine in Mumbwa District, where five small-scale miners were successfully rescued after being trapped underground for 17 days following a mine collapse.
Dr. Kabeta commended the rescue teams and all stakeholders who participated in the operation but stressed that the incident should serve as a lesson to those engaging in illegal mining activities across the country.
He reiterated Government's commitment to promoting responsible and lawful mining practices and urged miners to acquire the necessary licences and operate within the provisions of the law to safeguard lives and protect the environment.
Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development-Zambia
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EMOTIONAL DESPERATION BY THE TRAPPED MINERS AND THE PRAYER.
After exhausting every effort to create an escape route but without success, the trapped miners became physically drained and emotionally overwhelmed. Having lost hope and uncertain about what lay ahead, one of the miners gathered his colleagues and offered a short prayer to God, the giver of life.
The prayer was offered in Tonga:
"Lord, forgive us for our sins. Do not let us die like this without saying goodbye to our families. Some of us, despite being young, are the breadwinners of our families."
After the prayer, silence filled the underground shaft. With no strength left and believing their fate was beyond their control, the miners lay down to rest.
Unknown to them, rescue teams on the surface were working tirelessly against time to reach them. As the miners drifted into a brief sleep underground, a determined rescue operation was unfolding above, bringing them closer to a second chance at life.
The miners were trapped on the 3rd of May and only got rescued on the 20th of May 2026 meaning they were trapped for 17 days
31/05/2026
Every life matters, stop illegal mining.
Day 2 at Matala Gold Mine-The five trapped small-scale miners remained stranded about 50 meters underground, desperately searching for a way out.
However, all possible escape routes were blocked. As the miners waited below, rescue teams worked tirelessly on the surface, continuing round-the-clock efforts to reach and safely bring them back home.
This is the more reason why government continues to advocate for safe and legal Mining to avoid accidents like the one we witnessed on the 3rd of May 2026.
Engineer Malfred Molela from the Mineral Regulation Commission briefing Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary Dr. Hapenga Kabeta on how the rescue operation of the five trapped small-scale miners was successfully conducted at Matala Gold Mine.
29/05/2026
Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development-Zambia Permanent Secretary Dr Hapenga Kabeta at the Matala Gold Mine site where the 5 Small-Scale miners got trapped.
29/05/2026
Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development-Zambia Permanent Secretary Dr Hapenga Kabeta with the rescued small-scale miners at Mumbwa District Hospital where they have been receiving medical care.
The miners are set to be discharged from hospital today. They were trapped at Matala Gold Mine for 17 days.
28/05/2026
Lusaka Zambia, 28th May,2027 — The Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development has announced that it will participate in the upcoming Zambia Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI), scheduled to take place in Lusaka from July 28 to 30, 2026.
Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary Hapenga Kabeta disclosed the development during a courtesy call from Publish What You Pay Zambia National Director Nsama Chikwanka.
Dr. Kabeta said the Ministry’s participation in ZAMI forms part of broader efforts to strengthen stakeholder engagement and promote inclusive dialogue in the mining sector.
He added that government will also take part in similar engagements in other regions, including Sinazongwe, Mapatizya, Mufumbwe, Kasempa and Kalumbila.
He emphasized that dialogue remains a critical pillar in the development and governance of the mining sector, noting that the Ministry plays a central role in ensuring the success of platforms such as ZAMI.
Meanwhile Publish What You Pay Zambia National Director Nsama Chikwanka welcomed the Ministry’s commitment to engagement, stressing the importance of information sharing and collaboration in addressing key mining-related issues.
He expressed optimism that continued dialogue would strengthen trust and improve outcomes across the sector.
The Zambia Alternative Mining Indaba, established in 2012, is a multi-stakeholder platform that promotes dialogue, transparency and accountability in the extractive sector.
It brings together government, civil society, mining companies, local communities and other stakeholders to advance inclusive mining governance.
27/05/2026
27/05/2026
ZAMBIA PUSHES FOR STRONGER IMPLEMENTATION OF CRITICAL MINERALS STRATEGY
Lusaka Zambia, 27th May, 2026 — Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening implementation of the Critical Minerals Strategy aimed at positioning the country as a key player in the global mineral value chain through value addition, strategic partnerships, and responsible mining.
Speaking during the official opening of the Dialogue Forum on Zambia’s Critical Minerals Strategy in Lusaka, Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary Hapenga Kabeta said Zambia is strategically placed to benefit from rising global demand for critical minerals such as copper, cobalt, manganese, lithium, nickel, graphite and rare earth elements.
Dr. Kabeta noted that these minerals are increasingly important for clean energy technologies, electric vehicles, and advanced manufacturing, adding that Zambia’s 2024 Critical Minerals Strategy is designed to ensure the country moves beyond extraction to full economic transformation through industrialization, job creation and sustainable development.
He said a key priority under the strategy is the strengthening of geological mapping and mineral resource management to improve data availability and support informed investment decisions in the mining sector.
Dr. Kabeta further highlighted government’s efforts to deepen strategic partnerships with regional and international stakeholders to boost investment and promote value addition.
He cited initiatives such as the Zambia–DRC Battery Council supported by Afreximbank, as well as Memoranda of Understanding with the European Union, the United States, and Saudi Arabia through Manara Minerals.
Speaking at the same event, Natural Resource Governance Institute Africa Director Nafi Quarshie said critical minerals have become strategic global assets shaping industrial competitiveness and geopolitical priorities, placing Zambia in a strong position as one of Africa’s leading copper producers.
However, she cautioned that mineral wealth alone does not automatically translate into development, stressing the need for Zambia to avoid past patterns of exporting raw materials without sufficient local value addition.
“The opportunity before Zambia is not simply about producing more minerals, but about transforming them into long-term public value,” she said.
The Dialogue Forum brought together stakeholders from government, industry, civil society, academia and development partners to chart a path for the future of Zambia’s critical minerals sector.
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