AGP Executive Report

Zambia’s Election & Governance: The EU accepted Zambia’s election results and Hakainde Hichilema’s continuity in office, while still flagging “serious incidents and procedural irregularities” in vote counting—urging disputes to be handled through legal channels. Mining & Local Supply Finance: First Quantum Minerals Zambia and Inde Credit teamed up to help Zambian SMEs access mining supply-chain finance under Local Content rules, using buyer-anchored invoices and purchase orders to cut lending risk and speed approvals. Trade & Logistics: Trade activity at Chirundu Border Post is picking up as services resume after the election period; queues remain, but 24-hour operations and planned road and border upgrades are set to reduce congestion. Energy Transition: Namibia’s Siemens-backed integrated green hydrogen facility in Walvis Bay shows what industrial-scale clean power can look like in the region, with hydrogen earmarked for transport and port-linked use. Agriculture & Climate Risk: El Niño is intensifying, with major knock-on effects for rainfall, food output and commodity prices—raising pressure on agriculture and logistics across southern Africa. Public Health & Industry: Absa says its agentic AI chatbot is handling 100,000+ queries monthly for 1.6m users, reflecting how financial services are using AI to improve customer experience and faster decisions.

Border Trade & Logistics: Trade activity at Zambia’s Chirundu Border Post is picking up again after the election, with Zimbabwe and Zambia running Chirundu as a 24-hour border from 31 Dec 2025 and scrapping transit duties on petroleum products, though traders still report long queues and want faster clearance. Mining Finance & Local Content: First Quantum Minerals Zambia and Inde Credit have teamed up to finance Zambian-owned suppliers under SI 68 of 2025, using FQM purchase orders and invoices to cut lending risk and speed approvals for mining supply-chain SMEs. Copper Market Watch: Copper remains in a tight, prompt-strong structure, with backwardation and low exchange stocks keeping near-term availability valuable—raising the question of whether higher prices will eventually pull in more supply. Regional Industrialisation Push: SADC leaders renewed calls to turn borders into bridges and treat infrastructure and electricity cooperation as the backbone of regional integration, linking mineral and agricultural wealth to industrial prosperity. Climate & Food Risk: El Niño is intensifying, with major knock-on effects for agriculture, food prices, energy and logistics—an issue Zambia’s farmers and input planning can’t ignore. Public Health Systems: CIDRZ and partners are rolling out ZEBRA, a digital coordination platform for infectious disease outbreak response, with user testing underway in Kafue.

HIV Prevention Supply Crunch: Zambia’s rollout of lenacapavir (LEN) faces a demand-versus-supply trap as limited branded doses are available while cheaper generics are expected later, raising the risk of clinic stock-outs. Public Health Digitisation: CIDRZ and partners are piloting ZEBRA, a digital platform to coordinate infectious disease outbreak response in Zambia, with user testing underway in Kafue. Zambia Election & Investor Mood: Hakainde Hichilema wins a second term with about 60% of the vote, bringing investor relief for copper-led growth, even as opposition and rights groups raise concerns over democratic space. Local Content Push: Government consultations in Southern Province kick off a new National Local Content Strategy to boost local goods, services, skills, technology transfer and value addition. Cross-Border E-Commerce Payments: Standard Bank and UnionPay expand UnionPay e-commerce acceptance to nine markets including Zambia, adding payment choice for merchants and travellers. Agribusiness Under Climate Pressure: Research urges Zambia and Malawi to tailor farm input subsidies by agro-ecological zones ahead of El Niño, rather than using one-size-fits-all support. Livestock Trade Shock: FMM abattoir closure threatens jobs and livestock market access, with producers losing EU and regional buyers. Transport Resilience After Disaster: Calls grow to upgrade Zambia’s Gachegache (Charara-Kanyanya) road to provide a safer alternative route for fish and agricultural produce after ferry tragedies.

Copper & Mining Finance: BHP says copper earnings jumped to $18.19bn, overtaking iron ore as Zambia stays in the spotlight for critical-minerals investment. Zambia Election & Stability: Hakainde Hichilema has been declared winner with about 60% after a vote marked by violence, suspended counting, and opposition arrests—setting the tone for investor confidence and policy continuity. Local Content Push: Government consultations in Southern Province aim to refresh Zambia’s National Local Content Strategy, focusing on skills, technology transfer, and value addition beyond procurement targets. Power Sector Reliability: A new analysis argues Zambia’s electricity recovery is uneven, with mining driving most gains, and calls for open access plus private capital to spread reliability across manufacturing and agriculture. Digital Commerce for SMEs: Standard Bank and UnionPay expanded e-commerce acceptance across nine markets including Zambia, helping merchants reduce checkout friction and sell cross-border. Public Health Tech: CIDRZ and partners rolled out ZEBRA, a digital platform to coordinate infectious disease outbreak response, with user testing underway in Kafue. Road Safety After Disaster: Zimbabwe’s Gachegache road upgrade is being urged as a safer alternative route for Kariba communities after a ferry tragedy. Mining Sports: Mopani Copper Mines postponed the 2026 IRH–Mopani Challenge Cup to complete logistics and stakeholder arrangements.

Zambia Election & Investor Outlook: Hakainde Hichilema has won a second term with about 60% of the vote, beating Brian Mundubile’s ~38%, with investors watching whether debt and IMF talks translate into faster growth amid drought and power risks. Capital Markets: The Lusaka Securities Exchange expects up to $1bn in IPOs after the election as copper prices lift sentiment, with listings potentially spanning mining, telecoms, manufacturing and finance. Mining & Security: A new report warns illegal gold mining could fuel trafficking and violent extremism across Southern Africa, citing Zambia’s intensified anti-illegal mining operations. Gold Processing Tests: PC Gold reports strong Spring Hill metallurgical results, including gravity recoveries and up to 99.4% overall gold extraction in composites, with further testwork underway. Regional Industrial Push: UN ECA urges SADC to industrialise by processing minerals and agricultural output into regional value chains. Energy Transition Finance: The AfDB’s $200m energy transition fund names Zambia among primary markets for renewable and low-carbon infrastructure investment. Business Risk Management: Zambia’s SEC urges firms to diversify to manage currency, inflation and demand shocks.

Zambia Election & Investor Outlook: Hakainde Hichilema has won a second term with about 60% of the vote versus Brian Mundubile’s ~38%, after a vote that was largely peaceful but marred by opposition claims of intimidation, restrictions and irregularities; investors are watching for continuity as talks on a new IMF programme become the first big test for turning stabilisation into growth. Industrialisation Push (SADC/ECA): The UN Economic Commission for Africa urged SADC to accelerate industrialisation by processing mineral and farm resources and building regional value chains, as SADC leaders wrapped up a summit in Durban with renewed focus on integration and infrastructure-led industrial growth. Energy & Critical Minerals Finance: A proposed $200m African energy transition fund (ATAF) is targeting renewable projects and battery storage, with Zambia listed among priority markets. Battery Supply Pressure: Zimbabwe’s ART reported battery volumes down 26% year-on-year in Q3 2026, blaming working-capital constraints and weaker replacement demand—an early warning for the region’s battery build-out. Business Resilience: Zambia’s SEC urged firms to diversify portfolios to manage currency, inflation and demand swings. Regional Transport Tragedy: Police updates on the Lake Kariba ferry disaster in Zimbabwe put identified deaths at 83, with more bodies still unaccounted for, keeping cross-border transport safety in the spotlight.

SADC Industrial Push: At the 46th SADC summit in Durban, leaders backed a regional tourism UNIVISA and put critical minerals, infrastructure and agricultural transformation at the centre of a new industrialisation agenda, with President Cyril Ramaphosa urging borders to become “bridges” and resources to turn into industries. Regional Finance: Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa handed over the SADC chair to Ramaphosa and urged member states to operationalise and fund the SADC Regional Development Fund to back energy, water and infrastructure. Energy Regulation: Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board approved 23 licences and 20 construction permits worth about ZMW 18.4bn for electricity, renewables and downstream petroleum, including utility solar projects and petroleum retail stations. Mining & Exploration: Tertiary Minerals reported early positive pXRF results from Zambia’s Mushima North Western Zone, including copper intersections, as it prepares for further modelling and assays. Air Transport: Zambia Airways appointed Aman Wole Gurmu as CEO effective 1 August 2026, aiming to boost regional connectivity and revenue. Politics & Security: Zambia’s government says security forces arrested 11 people, including senior opposition figures, over an alleged armed insurrection plot, as election results continue to be contested. Critical Minerals Debate: SADC officials renewed calls for Southern Africa to process critical minerals domestically rather than export raw ore, warning that the region still “exports the ore and imports the battery.”

Aviation & Trade: Zambia Airways has appointed Ethiopian Airlines veteran Aman Wole Gurmu as CEO effective August 1, 2026, aiming to boost regional connectivity and revenue growth. Energy Regulation: Zambia’s Energy Regulation Board approved 23 energy licences and 20 construction permits worth about ZMW 18.4 billion, spanning solar generation, petroleum distribution and downstream services. Mining & Exploration: Tertiary Minerals reports early positive pXRF results from new Western Zone scout drilling at the Mushima North Project, including copper intersections that support upcoming resource modelling. Critical Minerals & Industry Policy: As SADC leaders meet in Durban, the summit agenda spotlights industrialisation, infrastructure and critical minerals transformation, alongside regional security and the DRC Ebola situation. SADC Integration: Ramaphosa opened the 46th SADC summit urging faster integration and industrialisation, warning that the region still exports raw materials while importing finished goods. Agriculture & Climate Resilience: Zimbabwe’s Zadzamatura stresses drought-tolerant germplasm and climate-smart agronomy to protect yields amid El Niño-linked variability across the SADC region. Currency Watch: During Zambia’s vote-counting period, the kwacha held around K18.88/$, but dealers say investor caution remains until final results.

Zambia Election Update: President Hakainde Hichilema leads the presidential race with 1,544,140 votes from 135 of 226 constituencies counted, while main challenger Brian Mundubile has 1,030,662, as ECZ continues scrutiny amid earlier violence-related interruptions. SADC Summit Security: Heads of SADC states meet in Durban for the 46th Ordinary Summit with tightened venue security after arrests over unauthorised access attempts, with Zambia’s election violence and DRC’s Ebola outbreak on the agenda. Mining-to-Batteries Deal: Euro Manganese targets North American battery supply chains via a non-binding offtake term sheet with 6K Energy for high-purity electrolytic manganese metal from its Czech project. Energy & Power Infrastructure: Batoka Gorge moves toward formal procurement for a 2,400MW scheme, with Zambia and Zimbabwe each committing $220m in public equity to accelerate implementation. Trade Finance & Currency: Zambia is already collecting taxes and royalties from Chinese mining firms in yuan, reflecting growing use of China’s payment rails across Africa. Skills for Mining: Uganda warns that a shortage of metallurgists, mining engineers and mining economists could slow mining growth, urging more local training. Consumer Safety: Zimbabwe’s authorities warn of counterfeit Nivea lotion and Huletts sugar flooding informal markets, highlighting risks for household goods supply chains. Transport & Logistics: Tanzania’s DMG completes the overhaul of MV Liemba, restarting trials ahead of renewed regional service that links Zambia, Burundi and DRC. Health Systems: A World Bank-backed regional programme in Eastern and Southern Africa trains health mentors to integrate non-communicable disease surveillance into frontline field epidemiology.

Aviation Leadership: Zambia Airways has appointed Ethiopian Airlines executive Aman Wole Gurmu as its new CEO, effective 1 August, as the airline targets stronger operations, route expansion and partnerships. Agri-Industrialisation: A regional push argues Southern Africa must industrialise beyond mines by turning farm output into factories and exports, starting with food security and agro-processing. Public Health Capacity: A World Bank-backed programme in Eastern and Southern Africa is training health workers to spot non-communicable diseases earlier, strengthening frontline surveillance across 11 countries including Zambia. Trade & Finance: Zambia is highlighted for collecting taxes and royalties from Chinese mining firms in yuan and routing the currency back to support imports and loan servicing, as more African banks integrate with China’s CIPS. Regional Governance: As South Africa takes over the SADC chair, migration, trade, critical minerals, industrialisation and security are set to dominate the Durban summit agenda. Election Tension: Zambia’s vote counting resumed after a suspension tied to violence and interference with ballots, with official presidential tallies expected soon.

Zambia Election Count Resumes: Zambia’s Electoral Commission restarted vote counting after a suspension over violence and alleged ballot theft, with Hakainde Hichilema leading in early tallies and the next official results expected soon—keeping pressure on the ECZ as the country’s copper-driven economy and jobs debate stays front and centre. Aviation Leadership Move: Zambia Airways appointed Ethiopian aviation veteran Aman Wole Gurmu as CEO, aiming to boost operations, customer experience, route expansion and financial sustainability. Agri-Trade Boost in Livingstone: Zambia inaugurated an upgraded Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service lab to cut testing costs and speed up clearance, supporting safer plant movement and faster agricultural exports. Copperbelt Political Shock: Former Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe lost the Chililabombwe seat, adding to UPND setbacks concentrated on the Copperbelt. Mining Value-Add Push: UN ECA says SADC must move beyond raw mineral exports into processing and manufacturing to create more jobs and industrial growth. Carbon Market Step: Zambia launched a national carbon registry to improve transparency and unlock climate finance opportunities.

Health Infrastructure: Zambia has released Sh11bn for a Southern Highlands Zonal Cancer Centre at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital, aiming to decentralise oncology care and cut travel costs for patients across the region. Aviation & Trade Connectivity: Zambia Airways appointed Ethiopian aviation veteran Aman Wole Gurmu as CEO, tasking him with improving operations, expanding routes and strengthening partnerships for Zambia’s market access. Agribusiness & Exports: Zambia inaugurated an upgraded Livingstone Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary lab with support from TradeMark Africa and UK funding, expected to cut testing costs and speed up clearance to boost agricultural exports. Carbon Markets: Zambia launched a national carbon registry to improve carbon accounting and transparency, positioning the country to tap climate finance and Article 6 opportunities. Mining & Industrialisation: Zambia’s carbon and critical-minerals push also sits alongside election-era debates on copper-led growth, while parliamentary results show key Copperbelt losses for the governing UPND. Power Reliability Watch: Eskom reiterated its reliability drive in South Africa, a reminder of how electricity stability affects regional industry and logistics. Regional Election Context: Zambia’s vote counting resumed after a security-led suspension, with early results expected soon—keeping political stability and investor confidence in focus for copper and manufacturing.

Zambia Election Update: The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) resumed vote counting after a security-led suspension over violence and alleged ballot theft, with the first official presidential results expected at 22:00 local time; the delay has raised regional concern since Zambia is seen as a stable multiparty democracy. Agri-Exports Boost: Zambia inaugurated an upgraded Livingstone Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service lab, cutting testing costs and processing times by up to 50% to speed up agricultural trade and protect plant health. Copper & Jobs Debate: Voters weighed Hakainde Hichilema’s economic turnaround against cost-of-living pressure, with mining investment and debt restructuring not yet felt evenly. Mining Value-Add Push: UN ECA says SADC must move beyond raw minerals into processing and manufacturing for jobs, as critical energy-transition demand rises. Carbon Markets: Zambia launched a national carbon registry to improve transparency and position the country for Article 6 carbon trading and climate finance. Regional Industry Links: SADC leaders set priorities for resilient, industrialised development, with infrastructure and critical minerals transformation at the centre.

Zambia Election Watch: Zambia’s Electoral Commission suspended vote counting within 24 hours after reports of violence against election workers and alleged theft of marked ballots, as voters weighed Hakainde Hichilema’s economic turnaround against cost-of-living pressure. Copperbelt Political Signals: Four senior ministers lost parliamentary seats, including Mines, Transport and Commerce figures on the Copperbelt—an important mining and jobs barometer for the country’s copper-led economy. Skills and STEM Pipeline: Illovo Sugar disbursed the first K71.3m scholarships (31 young women) under a renamed endowment fund at MUST, backing STEM talent for industry-ready careers. Carbon Markets Push: Zambia launched a national carbon registry to improve carbon accounting and transparency, aiming to unlock climate finance for projects in forestry, clean energy and waste management. Mining Development: Koryx Copper reported further drill results for the Haib Copper Project in Namibia, with wide copper intercepts and ongoing work toward a PFS later in 2026. Regional Industrialisation: SADC leaders framed the bloc’s agenda around resilient, inclusive industrialisation—linking infrastructure, agriculture and critical minerals transformation. Food Security Pressure: Malawi maize faces competition from cheaper Zambian supplies, highlighting how regional harvests and pricing can quickly reshape agro-trade.

Zambia Election Watch: Vote counting has started after Zambians cast ballots in presidential, parliamentary and local elections, with ECZ saying provisional results should begin soon and the final presidential outcome expected on Aug 17; turnout was strongest in Lusaka and the Copperbelt, while some late-opening stations stayed open to protect voting rights. Economic Stakes: The race is framed as a test of Hakainde Hichilema’s reforms versus persistent cost-of-living pressure, with main challenger Brian Mundubile campaigning on lowering living costs, strengthening agriculture and restoring freedoms. Mining & Industry Signals: Shuka Minerals reports a new near-surface zinc-lead orebody at Kabwe after completing drill hole KBDD09, adding to the push for more local mineral development. Regional Trade for Agriculture: COMESA launched a digital seed system (COMSIS) in Lusaka to standardize seed certification and cut barriers to regional seed trade. Energy & Power Context: Zambia’s election backdrop also includes wider regional power-finance stress, as Zimbabwe faces a US$430m debt issue tied to Hwange power units.

Election Day, Economy on Trial: Zambians vote today in a presidential election seen as a referendum on Hakainde Hichilema’s reforms, with cost of living pressure, unemployment and unreliable power still biting households; the race is widely framed as Hichilema versus opposition figure Brian Mundubile, as international observers and US senators urge a peaceful, fair process. Mining & Environment: A new study says a 2025 tailings dam failure tied to Sino-Metals Leach released toxic substances into the Kafue River system, with communities still living with contamination. Trade Rules for Traders: Zimbabwe’s SI 59 of 2026 highlights how import licensing compliance must start before purchases—an important lesson for regional importers and logistics planning. Agri-Trade Boost: Zambia handed over an upgraded Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service lab in Livingstone to cut testing time and costs, supporting horticulture and cross-border exports. Copperbelt Exploration: Shuka Minerals reports a new near-surface zinc/lead orebody at Kabwe after completing drill hole KBDD09. AI Cooperation: China’s ambassador attended a China-Zambia AI cooperation seminar, pointing to digital infrastructure and industrial AI applications.