Botswana and Zambia Explore Mining Cooperation to Drive Regional Mineral Value Addition

Botswana and Zambia Explore Mining Cooperation to Drive Regional Mineral Value AAddition. Botswana is calling for stronger mining cooperation with Zambia and other countries in the region as part of efforts to increase mineral value addition, local manufacturing and regional industrialisation.

Minister of Minerals and Energy Bogolo Joy Kenewendo made the call while speaking at the Zambia Mining and Investment Insaka (ZAMII) 2026 in Lusaka, where she represented President Advocate Duma Boko. Kenewendo highlighted Botswana’s mining expertise as an opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships, build technical capacity and develop value chains around the continent’s mineral resources.

She said African countries need to move beyond exporting raw minerals and increase their focus on processing, manufacturing and innovation. According to Kenewendo, these activities can support job creation and enable countries to retain more economic value from their mineral resources.

Potential areas of cooperation identified by the minister include mining equipment manufacturing, engineering, skills development and regional supply chains.

Among the proposals under consideration is an industrial campus focused on mining equipment manufacturing and mineral processing. The proposed development would be linked to a 300-megawatt solar photovoltaic project and battery energy storage facility.

The proposed projects remain subject to technical and commercial assessments. Another initiative under consideration is a mining intelligence platform that could identify procurement opportunities across the region. A mineral traceability system has also been proposed to improve transparency within mineral supply chains.

The initiatives are intended to strengthen the participation of local businesses in the mining value chain while supporting skills transfer and employment opportunities. The proposals also seek to reduce reliance on imported mining equipment and services by developing regional manufacturing and technical capabilities.

Kenewendo’s remarks at ZAMII 2026 place regional cooperation at the centre of efforts to develop mining industries beyond the extraction of raw materials.