Botswana and Zambia have positioned themselves as key partners in Africa’s push for mineral beneficiation, energy security, and regional industrialisation, as leaders from both countries called for deeper cooperation and long-term investment.
The two countries said this at Brand South Africa’s Investing in Africa Mining Indaba Welcome Reception on Sunday night.
Botswana’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Bogolo Kenewendo, said her country is deliberately shifting from an extractive mining model towards industrialisation, energy security, and regional value chains.
Kenewendo said Botswana’s long-standing reputation as a stable and transparent mining jurisdiction provides a strong foundation for its next phase of growth, which would be driven by beneficiation, downstream manufacturing, and cross-border integration.
“We are looking for serious partners, and not exploitation and exploration, but in beneficiation, in processing, and in the downstream manufacturing. If your minds are thinking beyond the pit into smelting, refining, fabrication, or regional supply, Botswana wants to work with you now,” she said.
Without energy, she said, industrialisation would not be possible, noting that Botswana is aggressively expanding its power base through renewable energy, base-load generation and cross-border power agreements within the Southern African Power Pool, including cooperation with Zambia, Namibia and South Africa.
Head of Investments: Mining and Energy at the Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia, Mulumba Lwatula, echoed the call for regional collaboration, saying Africa must drive its own development agenda by leveraging continental strengths.
Lwatula said Zambia now views itself as “land-linked” rather than landlocked, positioning the country as a logistics and trade hub within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He said Zambia was implementing mining sector reforms and creating platforms for partnerships with junior explorers, major mining companies, and regional governments to expand copper production and support the global energy transition.
He added that regional cooperation, particularly with South Africa’s established mining expertise and infrastructure, would be critical to building human capital, scaling production, and strengthening Africa’s role in global value chains.
Sunday’s reception, which was addressed by Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong, was held ahead of the official opening of the Mining Indaba on Monday, 09 February in Cape Town.– SAnews.gov.za
