How a Canadian Mining Giant Infiltrated Zambia's Democracy

LUSAKA – A damning investigation by the international watchdog Global Witness has cast a long shadow over the integrity of Zambia's democratic processes, alleging a decades-long covert influence campaign orchestrated by Canadian mining behemoth First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and its associates. The report, released recently, claims that FQM, a dominant player in Zambia's vital copper sector, has been a significant financial backer of President Hakainde Hichilema's United Party for National Development (UPND) across several election cycles. This alleged financial support, according to Global Witness, has coincided with substantial benefits for the mining company, including an estimated $771 million in tax savings since 2022. The investigation, which draws on interviews with numerous insiders from government, the mining industry, and civil society, alongside public documents, paints a picture of a sophisticated operation designed to shape Zambia's political and economic landscape. It suggests that FQM, which controls over half of Zambia's copper output and is the country's largest taxpayer, has leveraged its immense economic power to secure a favourable operating environment. The report further details how associated consulting firms, including the now-closed Brenthurst Foundation and British lobbying group SABI Strategy, allegedly helped craft government economic policy, ran social media influence operations, and embedded campaign staff within Zambia's State House. These allegations come at a critical juncture for Zambia, a nation heavily reliant on its copper resources, which account for over 70% of its export earnings and a significant portion of government revenue. The report highlights a stark contrast between the reported tax benefits for FQM and the ongoing economic austerity faced by the Zambian populace. Global Witness, while not alleging corruption or that the funding breached Zambian electoral law, raises profound concerns about the vulnerability of resourc