PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has revealed that during his time in the opposition, he and officials from First Quantum Minerals (FQM) resorted to holding discreet meetings in airport toilets to discuss Zambia’s mining future.
Speaking during the commissioning of the US$1.25 billion S3 Expansion Project at Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi yesterday, President Hichilema took a moment to share a personal anecdote of how challenging it was to talk about economic recovery plans before assuming office, especially when those plans involved foreign investors.
The Head of State disclosed that during his time in the opposition, he and First Quantum Minerals executives, including now-CEO Tristan Pascal and former FQM Africa head, were forced to meet discreetly to avoid attracting negative attention from the previous regime.
“There were times we used to hide at Johannesburg Airport. We would meet in the toilet to avoid being misunderstood,” President Hichilema said.
The President clarified that these meetings were not clandestine for the sake of secrecy, but were strategic efforts to maintain investor confidence in Zambia at a time when the country’s economic future appeared uncertain.
President Hichilema said the talks centred around stabilising Zambia’s mining sector and securing long-term investment, including the expansion of Kansanshi Mine, which has now come to fruition.
“These discussions were about how to sustain mining operations, how to grow jobs, and how to inject more capital into our economy. We were planning ahead while others were playing politics,” he said.
He further praised First Quantum Minerals for its commitment and confidence in Zambia, noting that the Kansanshi S3 expansion represents a critical turning point for the country’s mining industry.
The S3 Expansion Project is expected to extend the life of Kansanshi Mine by at least 20 years, creating over 1,500 direct jobs and contribute significantly to national revenue through taxes.
By George Musonda
Kalemba August 20, 2025
