AGP Executive Report

Copper Market Boost: Copper prices rose to about US$13,612/tonne, lifting Zambia’s mining outlook as demand from renewable power, EVs and industry stays strong; cobalt also remains firm. Solar Power Push: ZESCO says it’s confident of exceeding its 1,000MW solar target by end-2026, with Chipata West Solar at ~52% and expected completion in November. Digital Payments: FMBcapital Holdings and Visa signed a five-year deal to expand secure digital payments across Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Mobility Tech Recognition: Yango Zambia won top innovation and customer service awards, highlighting tech-driven mobility and platform reliability. AI Safety Alert: Zambia Police warned against creating and circulating misleading AI-generated content, citing cyber law offences and threats to security. Uranium Project De-risking: Atomic Eagle secured key ZEMA ESIA approval and a Resettlement “No Objection” for the Muntanga uranium project. Critical Minerals Finance: CopperTech Metals filed for a US IPO targeting up to ~$3.57bn to fund Konkola Copper Mines expansion, tying Zambia’s copper to AI and electrification demand. Energy-Grid Reality Check: A study flags that Africa’s power expansion will strain water and raise emissions, urging better integrated planning. Youth & Skills Tech: Yango’s Zambia-linked AI hackathon activity continues across Africa, while cross-border DigiTrucks mobile computer labs bring digital skills to underprivileged schools.

Uranium Permits: Atomic Eagle says Zambia’s ZEMA has approved the Muntanga Uranium ESIA and the VP Resettlement Division has issued a “No Objection” on its RAP—major steps that de-risk the project ahead of construction. Copper Capital Markets: Vedanta’s CopperTech Metals has filed for a U.S. IPO targeting up to about $3.6bn valuation (ticker CUX) to fund a Konkola Copper Mines expansion, positioning Zambian copper for AI-driven demand and electrification. Election & Governance: A commentary warns Zambia’s August 13, 2026 polls could face “constitutional robbery,” pointing to changes like a shorter voter register inspection window and a rapid increase in directly elected seats. University Water Upgrade: UNZASU reports progress on UNZA water rehabilitation, including replacing an old asbestos pipeline with PVC and ongoing works to improve campus water pressure. Digital Education Push: DigiTrucks—solar-powered mobile computer labs—were flagged off for Tanzania, with the program already operating across several African countries including Zambia. Rail Investment: Zambia says it has secured over $1.48bn for rail corridor upgrades, including a $1.4bn TAZARA rehabilitation deal plus EU and other support for key sections.

Mining & IPOs: Vedanta’s Konkola-linked CopperTech Metals is targeting a US$3.57bn valuation in a U.S. IPO, planning major copper output ramp-ups at Zambia’s Copperbelt. Underground mining expansion: Indian contractor Laxyo has won a US$23m raise-boring contract at Mopani Copper Mines, signaling more specialised underground services in Zambia. Rail & corridors: Zambia says it has secured over US$1.48bn for rail upgrades, including a US$1.4bn TAZARA rehabilitation deal plus EU and other support for key corridor sections. AI policy in Zambia: The RAM 2.0 consultation is set to shape Zambia’s next AI strategy phase as the current National AI Strategy expires. Digital skills & mobility tech: Yango and Zindi ran a Cameroon AI hackathon with 300+ participants building models to predict taxi travel times—expanding a programme already active in Zambia. Health & tech for care: Zambia’s sickle cell symposium called for stronger systems, early diagnosis and community action to close survival gaps. Youth & STEM inspiration: The Mweene twins’ physics and engineering story highlights Zambia’s talent pipeline, while FNB refurbished a basketball court for ZCAS to boost youth development.

Rail & Trade Corridors: Zambia has secured over US$1.48bn in signed rail deals and grants, including a US$1.4bn public-private deal to rehabilitate the TAZARA line (1,860 km) with new locomotives and wagons, plus an EU grant (US$57.5m) for Livingstone–Copperbelt track, signalling and telecom upgrades under the Lobito Corridor push. Mining Tech & Skills: Zambia’s mining ecosystem gets a boost as Laxyo Ltd lands a US$23m raise-boring contract at Mopani Copper Mines, while Zambia’s Ministry of Technology and Science advances RAM 2.0 to shape the next phase of ethical AI policy. Health Tech & Systems: At the University of Zambia, experts urged stronger sickle cell care through newborn screening, better supplies, workforce investment and community action. AI for Development: Zambia also joins wider regional momentum on practical innovation—like the Africa Health Collaborative push for jobs and ventures—as governments look to turn tech into services. Agriculture & Delivery: Policy debate continues around boosting FISP and speeding farmer income via mechanisation, irrigation and faster maize drying/marketing.

Sickle Cell Care Push: Lusaka’s health leaders, patients and caregivers used World Sickle Cell Day to call for stronger systems, earlier diagnosis, better treatment access and community action to close survival gaps. AI Governance for Zambia: The Ministry of Technology and Science says RAM 2.0 will shape Zambia’s next AI policy phase as the current strategy expires, with a focus on inclusive, responsible use. Mining Tech Expansion: Indian contractor Laxyo won a US$23m raise-boring contract at Mopani Copper Mines, marking its first overseas specialised underground mining deal as it prepares for an IPO. Agriculture Support: Chongwe’s agricultural show drew calls to increase FISP so farmers can produce all year, boost productivity and move farming further into a business model. Digital Rights Warning: A major report highlights “digital colonialism,” saying US health deals can demand access to Africans’ private data as a condition for lifesaving funding. Health Data Accuracy Alarm: A Zambia-focused critique says 83.4% of maternal death certificates contain errors, urging urgent training fixes to prevent avoidable deaths. Infrastructure Update: Lusaka–Ndola Dual Carriageway is at 78% completion, with authorities targeting substantial completion this year.

Mining & Tech in Zambia: Indian contractor Laxyo is entering Africa’s underground mining market with a $23m raise-boring contract at Mopani Copper Mines, executed via a Zambia subsidiary as it expands specialised services. Health Data & Digital Rights: A ProPublica report spotlights “digital colonialism” fears as the US conditions major health aid on access to Africans’ citizens’ data, raising privacy and sovereignty concerns. Public Health Accountability: A Zambia-focused critique claims 83.4% of maternal death certificates contain errors, urging stronger training and action to prevent avoidable deaths. Infrastructure Update: The Lusaka–Ndola Dual Carriageway is at 78% completion, with authorities projecting substantial completion this year and faster travel times along the corridor. Agriculture & Innovation: Mundubile’s campaign outlines mechanisation, irrigation, and faster maize payments, including industrial maize drying to help farmers sell earlier. Sports Development: Zambia and South Korea plan a football partnership for academies and coach/player exchanges, starting with Eastern Province. Digital Tax Systems: Nigeria’s e-invoicing push is set to begin July 1, with DigiTax highlighting real-time invoice validation and compliance risks. Healthcare Technology Transfer: Chinese doctors supported gastrointestinal endoscopy services at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, training local staff to improve diagnosis and treatment. Education & Social Protection: NAPSA launches a student chapter programme to bring social security and financial planning to higher-learning students.

Digital Rights & Health Data: ProPublica reports the U.S. is pushing “digital colonialism” terms in health deals, demanding access to Africans’ private data as a condition for lifesaving funding—raising privacy and sovereignty alarms. Public Health Tech: Zambia’s tech-and-health ecosystem gets a boost as Chinese doctors support Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital with advanced digestive endoscopy and training to improve diagnosis of ulcers and cancers. AI for Agriculture & Water: A drone startup, SORA Technology, uses AI to map high-risk mosquito breeding water for targeted spraying—showing how emerging tech can cut costs in malaria control. STEM & Research Capacity: FULafia appoints a new Director for its Centre for Artificial Intelligence, strengthening university research and innovation in emerging technologies. Skills & Social Security: NAPSA launches a Student Chapter Programme to bring social security and savings habits to higher-learning students early. Infrastructure & Industry: Zambia reports manufacturing contributed 7% to 2025 GDP, while construction and infrastructure remain key to jobs and growth. Regional Trade Tech: A “smart border” push highlights how digital customs can cut clearance delays and costs across Southern Africa. Creative Economy Pipeline: Zambia announces a Creative Convergence plan linking business summits and arts festivals to grow the creative trade.

Ebola Alert in DRC: DRC and Africa CDC say Ebola tracking is slipping as contact tracing falls to 56.5% and labs run out of testing kits, raising fears of wider spread. AI for Malaria Control: A drone startup, SORA Technology, uses AI to map high-risk water breeding sites so governments can target spraying more cost-effectively. Zambia’s AI Push in Education: FULafia appoints a new Director for its Centre for Artificial Intelligence to boost research and innovation capacity. Healthcare Tech Transfer: Chinese doctors at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital introduce advanced digestive endoscopy and train local staff to improve diagnosis of ulcers and cancers. Uranium Exploration Boost: Atomic Eagle starts a 30,000-meter drilling campaign at Chisebuka to upgrade Zambia’s Muntanga uranium project toward “mega-mine” status. Social Security for Students: NAPSA launches a Student Chapter Programme to bring young people into long-term planning and savings early. Creative Economy Pipeline: Zambia announces a three-event creative industry run—CIBS, then Kwimbo—linking local talent to wider markets.

AI & Mining Finance: A new “AI-Energy Nexus” lens is reshaping mining capital flows, with uranium and other critical minerals getting fresh focus as power-hungry AI drives supply-chain “de-risking.” Uranium Push in Zambia: Atomic Eagle starts a 30,000-meter drilling campaign at Chisebuka to upgrade resources and push Muntanga toward “mega-mine” status. Healthcare Tech Transfer: Chinese doctors at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital introduced advanced digestive endoscopy and trained local teams to improve diagnosis of ulcers and cancers. Agritech Training: Israel’s Ramat Negev centre trained 740 Zambian students via an 11-month internship mixing paid farm work with classroom learning for water-smart agriculture. TVET & Skills: Zambia’s delegation visited Ghana to study green and digital skills for youth employment under an EU/ILO project. Education & Social Security: NAPSA launches a Student Chapter Programme to bring social security and savings habits to higher-learning students. Governance & Infrastructure: Zambia’s construction expo highlights manufacturing’s GDP contribution and the role of infrastructure in jobs and local contracting. Creative Economy: Zambia announces a 3-event creative pipeline (CIBS, Kwimbo festival, and business matchmaking) to link grassroots talent to markets.

Education & Human Capital: Zambia’s Ministry of Education has praised Lotus Way International School for investing in education and “global citizen” skills, calling school-building one of the best national investments. Social Protection for Students: NAPSA launched a Student Chapter Programme to bring social security and financial planning to higher-learning students early, starting with institutions including UNZA and Mulungushi University. Healthcare Tech Transfer: Chinese doctors supported Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital with advanced digestive endoscopy tech and training to boost diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Agriculture Skills Pipeline: Israel’s Ramat Negev centre trained 740 Zambian students via an 11-month paid internship mixing farm work and classroom learning, focused on water-efficient modern farming and entrepreneurship. Creative Economy Push: Zambia will host a “Creative Convergence” series—CIBS (June 29–July 2), then the Kwimbo National Arts Festival (July 3–4)—to link grassroots talent with business ecosystems. Infrastructure & Jobs: Government said manufacturing contributed 7% to 2025 GDP and highlighted construction’s role in jobs, youth skills, and local contractor participation. Digital Health & Malaria: A new review reports insecticide-treated bed nets still protect against malaria despite rising mosquito resistance.

Healthcare Tech Transfer: Chinese doctors supported Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka with advanced digestive endoscopy tech and training, boosting local capacity to diagnose conditions like ulcers and cancers. Agriculture & Skills: Israel’s Ramat Negev centre trained 740 Zambian students via an 11-month internship mixing paid farm work and classroom learning, with a focus on water-efficient farming and entrepreneurship. Mining & Exploration: Atomic Eagle launched a 30,000-metre drilling push at its Chisebuka uranium deposit to upgrade resources and drive “mega-mine” ambitions for the Muntanga project. Digital Economy & Finance: Airtel Zambia hit a $1B market cap milestone on the LuSE, underscoring Zambia’s fast-growing ICT footprint. TVET & Green Jobs: Zambia sent officials to Ghana to study TVET models under an EU/ILO green jobs and skills project aimed at digital and green workforce readiness. AI in Health: Young innovators at HIFest 2026 showcased AI-led solutions, including a smart biomedical-waste “Smart Bin” concept. Renewables & Grids: Southern Africa’s renewables push is shifting toward storage and grid resilience as solar penetration rises. Smart Borders: A call for faster “smart border” adoption highlights how digital customs can cut delays and costs for regional trade.

Digital Rights Under Pressure: RightsCon 2026 was abruptly cancelled in Lusaka after government intervention, raising alarms about shrinking civic space and threats to digital freedoms. Smart Trade & Industry: China’s temporary zero-tariff push for 53 African countries (including Zimbabwe) aims to spur local processing and industrialisation, but results depend on governance and AfCFTA coordination. Healthcare Tech Transfer: Chinese doctors helped Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital expand gastrointestinal endoscopy services, improving diagnosis of ulcers and cancers. E-Invoicing Push: Doftwerks secured Nigeria Revenue Service dual accreditation as both systems integrator and access point provider for mandatory e-invoicing. Malaria Control Update: A review of clinical trials finds insecticide-treated bed nets still protect against malaria even as mosquito resistance rises. Zambia’s TVET Skills Drive: A Zambia delegation visited Ghana to learn TVET models under an EU/ILO green jobs and skills project. Zambia’s ICT Milestone: Airtel Zambia hit $1bn market capitalisation on the LuSE, with the ICT sector flagged as a growing GDP contributor. AI in Health Innovation: HIFest 2026 in Accra recognised young health innovators, including an AI-powered smart bin for biomedical waste. Energy for Industry: Coverage highlights the shift toward grid resilience, storage and smart systems as renewables expand across Southern Africa. Human Rights & Data Sovereignty: A “digital colonialism” report says some US health deals condition aid on access to citizens’ data, sparking outrage across Africa.

Healthcare Tech Transfer: Chinese doctors at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka introduced advanced digestive endoscopy and set up a gastrointestinal services unit, boosting local capacity to diagnose ulcers and cancers. Skills & Jobs (TVET): A Zambia delegation toured Ghana’s TVET system under an EU/ILO green jobs and skills project, focusing on green and digital training for youth, women, girls and people with disabilities. Health Innovation: Young African health innovators won top honours at HIFest 2026 in Accra, including an AI-powered “Smart Bin” for biomedical waste and an iron supplement built from indigenous Ethiopian teff. Energy & Industry: Analysts say Southern Africa’s renewables push is shifting toward storage, smart systems and grid optimisation for reliability—key for Zambia’s power-hungry industries. Waste Management in Lusaka: Lusaka’s waste challenge remains stark, with only about half collected; the report flags hazardous healthcare waste and weak disposal systems as major health risks. Digital Rights: A major investigation highlights “digital colonialism” fears as US health aid deals demand access to Africans’ private health data.

Energy & Industry: At the Africa Energy Forum 2026 in Cape Town, leaders say Africa’s next energy challenge is not just generating power, but building grid resilience so renewables can be integrated without outages—key for mines in Zambia and data centres across the region. Power Infrastructure: CHINT argues reliable transmission, substations, transformers and storage are the backbone for industrial growth, citing grid-strengthening work across Kenya, Botswana, Zambia and Malawi. Copper Geopolitics: A copper analyst says China–US–Europe rivalry is improving African producers’ leverage to demand more value from the energy transition, with Zambia and the DRC at the centre of supply security. Digital Rights: A ProPublica report warns of “digital colonialism” as the US conditions health aid on access to citizens’ private data, raising privacy and sovereignty concerns across Africa. AI in Education: UNICEF funding of $2.56m will expand Camara Education’s AI-powered digital learning hubs in Ethiopia, including offline-first setups for low-connectivity areas. Waste Management in Lusaka: Lusaka’s waste crisis is worsening—only about half of solid waste is collected—while hospital waste disposal gaps risk disease spread. Mobility Tech: Yango Zambia wins awards for customer service and mobility innovation, highlighting tech-driven transport improvements. Conservation Science: Whipsnade Zoo welcomed seven endangered northern cheetah cubs, boosting international breeding efforts.

Wildlife & Conservation: Tanzania topped Africa’s 2024/2025 wildlife census with about 328,000 buffaloes and 17,200 lions; Zambia was listed with roughly 41,000 buffaloes and 2,349 lions. Elephants Under Pressure: The same census shows Tanzania’s elephants fell from 134,000 (2005) to 66,714, driven by poaching and expanding human activity near protected areas. AI in Education: UNICEF funded Irish NGO Camara Education with $2.56m to roll out 115 AI-powered digital learning hubs in Ethiopia, including offline-first learning for low-connectivity schools. Malaria Tech (Bio-based): Johns Hopkins researchers say an orange sidewalk yeast, Rhodotorula taiwanensis, can lure and trap the main malaria mosquito, pointing to safer, low-cost eco-friendly traps. Digital Rights & Data: Kenya’s plan to sell citizens’ data drew criticism, while a digital rights report ranked Kenya 6th in Africa; Zambia also appears in the top tier. Connectivity: Starlink secured licences for Côte d’Ivoire, aiming to launch in July 2026—another push to close Africa’s internet gaps. Zambia Tech & Business: Yango Zambia won awards for customer service and mobility innovation, and Atomic Eagle expanded uranium targets at Muntanga. Research Culture: Zimbabwe’s research symposium gets major attention as regional science and innovation push continues.

Digital Connectivity & Fraud: TransUnion reports suspected digital fraud in Namibia (and globally) is shifting toward high-trust scam tactics, with Zambia included in the research footprint—useful context as Zambia pushes deeper into digital services. Satellite Internet Expansion: Starlink secures licences to launch in Côte d’Ivoire, its 27th African market, highlighting how low-Earth-orbit broadband could reach rural schools and clinics where fibre rollout lags. Climate Preparedness: Experts in Lusaka meet under ACCOF-21 to strengthen readiness for El Nino 2026/2027, turning forecasts into practical early warnings for vulnerable communities. Health Tech & Diagnostics: Zambia’s MoH and CIDRZ ramp up TB active case finding in Kafue, then respond by boosting lab capacity (including a new GeneXpert machine) to cut backlogs and speed diagnosis. Policy & Governance for Tech Markets: COMESA’s new competition and consumer protection rules begin to bite, with Google and Safaricom among firms that submitted comments—important for digital market oversight across the region. Uranium & STEM Investment: Atomic Eagle expands the uranium resource footprint at Muntanga, reinforcing Zambia’s growing role in nuclear-energy supply chains. Youth & Sports Development: FAZ appoints Tanzanian Sunday Kayuni as Technical Director, while Zambia’s youth sport push continues via grassroots Under-17 tournaments backed by ZANACO. Tourism Innovation: Green Safaris’ anniversary highlights Zambia’s sustainable tourism push as global demand for authentic, responsible experiences keeps rising.