Shuka Minerals Plc, an African-focused mine operator, has appointed Ox Drilling Limited as the drilling contractor for the Phase 1 drilling program at the Kabwe Zinc Mine in Zambia. The program, scheduled to begin in mid-May 2026, will involve approximately 2,000 meters of diamond drilling targeting known mineralized zones around and beneath previous workings at depths of 100-500 meters. This initial phase, supported by geological consultants GeoQuest Limited, will provide data to finalize locations for a broader 10,000-meter Phase 2 program and a subsequent JORC resource and reserves upgrade later in 2026. This marks the first resource drilling at Kabwe since the 1970s. The company's objective for its 2026 exploration program is to achieve a 50% increase to the existing resource of 6.8Mt at 13.3% Zinc and 3.3% Lead, valued at an estimated US$4 billion. The program also aims to better understand the concentrations and metallurgy of Silver, Vanadium, Germanium, and Gallium as by-products.