Women suppliers hail local content law for opening doors in mining

Women mine suppliers and contractors on the Copperbelt have praised the government for the positive impact of the Statutory Instrument on local content, saying it has opened real opportunities for female-led businesses across the sector.

The suppliers say the law has reshaped how they do business, giving women a firmer foothold in an industry where they have long struggled to break through. For many, it has meant the difference between operating on the margins and securing steady contracts with some of the country's largest mining firms.

Thokozile Mwase, a mine supplier and contractor, said female-led businesses are now benefiting from increased dealings with major mining companies. She explained that the growth in contracts has allowed these enterprises to expand their operations and, in turn, create more jobs for local people.

Speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Kitwe, Ms Mwase said the change had been felt directly by women entrepreneurs on the ground, many of whom are now able to plan for the future with greater confidence.

Margaret Sitali echoed those sentiments, saying SI 68 on local content had given women a genuine opportunity to grow their businesses within the mining value chain. She noted that the measure was helping to build a more inclusive sector, where women are no longer on the sidelines but active participants in the country's mining economy.

Both women called for continued support to ensure the gains already made are sustained and expanded in the years ahead.