Zambia’s Mining Appeals Tribunal will begin its work on 14th September 2026, marking the full operationalisation of the country’s dedicated court for mining disputes.
The Tribunal, announced by Chairperson Philimon Songolo in a statement issued on Friday, is expected to provide faster and fairer resolution of conflicts between investors, mining companies, communities and the Minerals Regulation Commission.
The Tribunal was first created under the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2015, but despite members being appointed, it never sat.
That changed after Parliament passed the Minerals Regulation Commission Act No. 14 of 2024, which repealed the 2015 law and re-established the Tribunal with a clear mandate.
Songolo said the Tribunal has since set up its offices, administrative systems and procedures to receive and hear appeals.
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Meanwhile, officials say the new body will bring certainty to the mining sector at a critical time when Government is pushing to increase copper production to 3 million metric tonnes by 2031.
“As a specialized adjudicative body, the Tribunal provides a dedicated forum for the timely, fair and consistent resolution of disputes,” Songolo said, in a statement.
“By facilitating the timely determination of appeals, the Tribunal will contribute to reducing delays that may affect the continuity, development and expansion of mining projects.”
Mining lawyers and investors have long complained that disputes with regulators took too long to resolve through the normal courts, slowing down projects and scaring away capital.
The Tribunal will now hear appeals on issues such as the grant, suspension and cancellation of mining rights, royalties, fees, environmental obligations and alleged misconduct by players in the sector.
On the other hand, Government says the Tribunal is not just for big investors. Communities affected by mining decisions will also be able to challenge rulings of the Minerals Regulation Commission.
The commencement of sittings is being described as “an important step in the continued development of Zambia’s mining governance framework.”
Songolo added that the Tribunal looks forward to discharging its mandate in a way that “promotes confidence in the dispute resolution process and contributes to a stable, predictable and responsible mining sector.”
Francis Chipalo
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