LOCAL CONTENT REGULATIONS: NAVIGATING ZAMBIA'S NEW MINING REALITY

The continued evolution of mining legislation has led to the call for a more intrinsic connection between the mining sector and the overall economy. Specifically, the inclusion of locals in the mining value chain has become a growing trend formineral-rich countries. This has led to the promulgation of local content regulations, which oblige mining companies to support local empowerment. While certain provisions under the local content regulations may seem aspirational, compliance bymining companies can strengthen their social license to operate. In 2025, the government promulgated the Local Content Regulations (SI 68 of 2025), which became effective on 1 January 2026. The Regulations, among other things, requiremining companies to reserve a portion of their annual procurement budget for a local company and to give preference to goods or services that are produced or sourced locally. The challenge, however, is the practical implementation of the Regulations, which seemingly exceeds the current capacity of the local industry, thus potentially deterring compliance by mining companies. The future of local content regulations in the mining sector will depend on finding a balance between safeguarding national interests and attracting foreign investment. The article, therefore, explores the challenges that could hinder the effective enforcement of the local content requirements. In a bid to offer a broader discourse on mineral resource governance and economic sovereignty, the article draws lessons fromother African countries. The purpose is to provide a comprehensive solution to avert challenges that could arise from the implementation of the Regulations and to recommend pathways for legal and regulatory reform.