The Zambian Government has constituted membership to the Mining Sector Skills Body (SSB) with representation from the public, private sector, education & training and civil society in line with the recommendations of the Mining Sector Skills Strategy, which is based on the recognition that skills and competent workforce are required to enable the sector to grow as envisioned in a coherent and coordinated manner.

According to the composition, the Mining SSB will be chaired by the Zambia Chamber of Mines (ZCM) through its representative Mopani Copper Mines Plc and deputised Ministry of Technology and Science, while the secretariate will be based at the Zambia Chamber of Mines.

Over 25 participants took part in the two-day meeting held from 18 to 19 February 2025 at Kitwe’s Garden Court Hotel to deliberate on the structure of the SSB Governing Committee including the five Sub-Committees, validate the Terms of Reference for the members and develop an action plan for 2025.

Officiating at the event, Ministry of Technology and Science Permanent Secretary, Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, said the establishment of the skills body was timely as the mining industry is rapidly evolving due to increased automation and digitalization.

In a speech read on his behalf by Acting Director- Vocational, Education and Training, Ms Precious Lisulo, Dr Habeenzu explained that the skills body would serve as the bridge between industry, government and training providers, ensuring that skills development programmes are tailored to the needs of the mining sector.  
He added that the skills body will also be responsible for setting competency standards, advising on policy, and facilitating industry-academic partnerships for hands-on training.  

“Allow me to reaffirm the government's commitment to skills development as an enabler for economic growth. The government recognizes that a skilled workforce is not just an asset but a prerequisite for Zambia’s transformation into a middle-income country. This aligns perfectly with the goals of the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), which emphasizes human capital development as a critical pillar of our growth agenda,” said Dr Habeenzu.

Meanwhile, Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) Executive Director, Mr. Harrington Chibanda said the skills body would ensure that relevant skills for the mining sector are identified and timely developed. Mr Chibanda added that the skills body ensure that access to work-based training programmes and provide an avenue through which the learners will not only have theories but will also have opportunities to attach a practical component in the process of their skills acquisition. 

“It is no doubt that for a long time we have underperformed as a country in industrialisation, especially in the mining sector where we have not exploited the full potential that this sector has. We are convinced that given the incentives that the government has been providing for the mining sector over the years, the development of demand driven skills for this sector will greatly contribute to the needed transformation that will add to the total economic transformation on which our 8th National Development Plan is anchored,” he said.

And Zambia Chamber of Mines, Mr. Yewa Kumwenda – Research and Policy Manager, stated that industry participation and contribution to skills development over the years, including but not limited to Mopani Central Training Centre, Sinozam and First Quantum Minerals. Mr. Kumwenda noted that for a well-trained and productive workforce focusing on safety, environmental sustainability, risk management, compliance, inclusiveness as well as community engagement and participation.

Meanwhile, International Labour Organization’s European Union (EU) supported Skills Development for Increased Employability Programme (SDEP) Chief Technical Advisor, Mr. Todini Marecha said the establishment of the skills body would help address the skills mismatch in the mining sector.

Mr Marecha has since called for the provision of skills that are relevant to both the industry and Technical, Vocational, and Education Training (TVET) institutions.
“There is need to realize apprenticeships programmes in the mining sector. Therefore, the establishment of the Mining Sector Skills Body has come at the right time,” he said.