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Christopher Yaluma has reiterated commitment to dialogue, cooperation and consultation with mining industry stakeholders.
Speaking at the ongoing Mining Indaba with Mining for Zambia, Yaluma said the common goal must focus on increasing production.
“We could grow our annual production to 1 and even 2 million tonnes if we engage in dialogue, and end the distrust that is hampering our performance.
“We must all focus on the same goal, which is to up production,” said Yaluma.
Yaluma said the key element of trust-building process is a stable mining policy that is arrived at in a spirit of cooperation, dialogue and consultation.
“You must start talking, doing things transparently. Embrace the industry, and get their input,” he said.
“Don’t come and surprise them the following morning and say we have changed this, because that will impact their long-term projections. But when there is trust and they believe you, they can start to plan and grow their business, which in turn will grow our [tax] proceeds.”
Yaluma said that there are mining reforms around local content “coming up”, towards May 2018, and that they would be subject to a full consultative process.
The mining industry would be given multiple opportunities to comment and provide input.
“We want to be very open now – it’s an open game.”
