Introduction In 2019, the government of Zambia suspended the export duty on precious metals and minerals. Among the reasons given for this decision was the need to attract investment into the mining sector and promote increased mineral exports. At the time, Zambia was facing harsh economic challenges, including low copper prices on international markets (as low as $6,000 to per ton) and a significant national debt. Consequently, the mining sector, which contributes over 70 percent to Zambia’s foreign exchange was adversely impacted. The suspension of the export duty was seen as one of the government’s strategies to stimulate the mining sector and the broader economy. However, in December 2024, the government passed Statutory Instrument No. 88 of 2024—the Customs and...