Copperbelt & Northwestern Provinces | March, 2026 – From March 5 to 14, the Inter-Agency Coordination and Cooperation Framework, through its Illegal Mining and Mineral Crimes Subcommittee, conducted province-wide tours across the Copperbelt and Northwestern regions.

The team engaged mining operators and regulators, gathering first-hand intelligence on sector vulnerabilities to understand how illegal mining drives organised crime, money laundering, and illicit financial flows, while ensuring a coordinated response across government agencies.

The Framework Chairperson and learned Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri, SC, tasked the subcommittee with this mission, supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The delegation comprised the following Members:

• Mr. Harrington Akushanga, Head – Anti-Fraud and Cyber Crime, Zambia Police Service
• Ms. Madiam Kadango, Assistant Director – Investigations, Anti-Corruption Commission
• Mr. Steven Sumbukeni, Assistant Director – Anti-Money Laundering and Investigations Unit, Drug Enforcement Commission
• Mr. Rupiah Phiri, Head – Investigations, Copperbelt Region, Zambia Revenue Authority
• Mr. Hastings Sichone, Senior Public Prosecutor, National Prosecution Authority.

The objectives of the tour were to identify vulnerabilities in the mining sector that criminals exploit, assess
the scale and impact of illegal mining on organised crime and strengthen partnerships with stakeholders to safeguard Zambia’s mineral resources.

The Inter-Agency Coordination and Cooperation Framework brings together 23 government agencies under the leadership of the DPP to tackle complex, cross-cutting crimes. Its Steering Committee, composed of heads of all member institutions, provides strategic direction, while the Technical Committee, chaired by Chief State Advocate Ms. Nkumbiza Mumba, oversees operational coordination and provides technical guidance. Multiple specialised subcommittees operate under the Technical Committee, each focusing on a specific crime area, with the Illegal Mining and Mineral Crimes Subcommittee dedicated to preventing and responding to mineral-related offences.

The key outcomes from the tour included:

• Actionable intelligence with first-hand insights which will inform strategies to counter organised crime, money laundering, and illicit financial flows linked to illegal mining.
• Stronger collaboration evident in the reinforced coordination between law enforcement, regulators, and mining stakeholders.
• International support which is clear given Zambia’s ongoing partnership with global bodies in combating mineral crimes.

Through proactive field engagement and strategic inter-agency coordination, Zambia is actively safeguarding its mineral wealth and economy, demonstrating that the fight against illegal mining and mineral crimes is a national priority.