Chingola, Zambia: Diwali carries a simple truth: one lamp can light many others without losing any of its own flame. At Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) this year, that idea has a particular resonance. The festival celebrates renewal and the triumph of light over darkness, and it arrives as KCM writes one of the most significant recovery stories on Zambia’s Copperbelt.

Board members, business partners, management and employees gathered to mark the festival. The celebration brought together people of different cultures, backgrounds and roles, and it showed something central to KCM’s turnaround: the recovery has been a shared effort. Contributions from the boardroom to the frontline, and from KCM’s many local business partners, have helped turn years of uncertainty into steady progress.

Board Chairperson Dr Moses Banda said the company’s culture is a key driver of its results.

“Culture is not separate from performance. It is the foundation of it,” said Dr Banda. “When people from different backgrounds feel respected and included, they bring their best to work every day. Diwali reminds us that light grows stronger when it is shared, and the same is true of the trust and unity that are powering KCM’s recovery. Strong values are what make a turnaround last.”

The operational results support that view. KCM recorded a 21% increase in copper production, and it recently reopened the Chingola “B” Mine after an 18-year hiatus, a milestone for the company and for the Chingola community.

Pushpender Singla, President of Strategy and Growth, said stakeholders are uniting behind KCM’s growth so the company can make a meaningful contribution to Zambia’s copper production ambitions.

“Every tonne of copper we produce reflects the commitment of thousands of hands: our employees, our contractors and our partners,” said Pushpender Singla. “Coming together for Diwali sends a clear message that this turnaround belongs to all of us. When we celebrate each other’s traditions, we strengthen the teamwork that keeps our operations moving forward safely and productively.”

For KCM, the festival of lights is more than a date on the cultural calendar. It reflects what perseverance, diversity and collaborative leadership can achieve together. An operation once written off as dormant has been reignited, and its future looks brighter than it has in years.