Kalumbila, Zambia — First Quantum Minerals (FQM), through its Trident operation, has unveiled Kwanzangana, a pioneering Corporate Social Investment (CSI) model designed to place communities at the heart of development and ensure mining benefits are shared more equitably.
The initiative takes its name from the Lunda word for “sharing,” reflecting values of fairness, inclusivity, and sustainability. Under the model, the Trident Foundation will collaborate with elected community representatives, government officials, and traditional leaders to guide resource allocation for projects in health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Speaking at the inaugural general conference in Kalumbila, North Western Provincial Deputy Permanent Secretary Luckson Mulumbi hailed the program as a practical reflection of the government’s decentralisation policy.
“Kwanzangana puts people at the centre of development. By ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability, it guarantees that mining prosperity is translated into real improvements in people’s lives,” Mulumbi said.
Trident Foundation Manager Joseph Ngwira underscored that the initiative is built on principles of ownership and sustainability.
“Kwanzangana is not simply about funding projects. It is about empowering communities to shape their own future. When people participate directly, development gains are deeper, lasting, and more widely shared,” Ngwira explained.
The initiative also received strong backing from traditional leaders. Senior Chief Musele Musokantanda IV described Kwanzangana as a home-grown solution rooted in cultural values of unity and fairness.
“Kwanzangana allows our people to decide what matters most, while strengthening harmony and shared responsibility in the community,” the chief stated.
A cornerstone of the model is the creation of an independent Executive Committee to oversee the Community CSI Fund, fully financed by FQM Trident. The fund will be subject to independent audits and transparent disbursements directly to service providers.
Aligned with Zambia’s Eighth National Development Plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Kwanzangana is expected to deliver inclusive and sustainable development that extends well beyond the life of the mine.
