Theme: “Deepest Reaches, for the Brightness Glory”

Kitumba, Central Province — December 2025

Sinomine Kitumba Minerals Company Limited capped off a remarkable year with a vibrant end-of-year awards ceremony and Christmas party held under the inspiring theme “Deepest Reaches, for the Brightness Glory,” which simply translates to a call for reflection, growth, resilience, and achievements over the past year. The celebration began at 15:00 hours and carried on late into the night, bringing together employees, management, and partners in a spirit of unity and festivity

Honouring Excellence

The highlight of the event was the recognition of outstanding employees whose dedication and performance stood out in 2025. Among those honoured with awards were Mr. Jackson Mutawa (HR Manager), Arlen Chikumbi (ESG Coordinator), Willis Shambana (Accountant), Eden Mpundu (Shift Boss), Moffat Kabali (Mine Captain), Vicent Shakopa (Head Driver), and Lazarous Chembe (Security Captain and Moses Mungumani

Special recognition was also given to Happy Mulenga and Geoffrey Huggins Chewe for their commitment as English teachers supporting the Chinese – Zambian team integration.

The Best-Performing Team award went to the team that performed the Chinese song, led by Honest Mutale, with a score of 9.5 out of 10.

The Best Department award was scooped by the Mining Department

 At the close of the awards ceremony, there was also a distribution of Christmas Hampers to all employees as a token of appreciation for the hard work every employee puts in.

Speeches of Gratitude and Vision

The Mine Manager, Dr. Zhong, delivered a keynote address, highlighting Kitumba’s progress and stated that Kitumba is the largest mining project under construction in Central Province. He noted that the project currently employs over 2,000 Zambians, with plans to add 600 more jobs upon commissioning of the processing plant and refinery in 2026.

The Mine Manager further emphasized that in 2025, the project exceeded its annual stripping target of 40 million tons, a true testament to teamwork under challenging conditions. He outlined upcoming milestones that include:

*             Equipment installation beginning in February 2026

*             Trial production by June 2026

*             Expected concentrate output equivalent of 6,000 tonnes of cathode copper by year’s end

*             Completion of the smelter facility and key infrastructure projects such as tailings storage, power transmission lines, and the Kafue River water supply system. “Our goal is to build Kitumba into a modern open-pit mining complex integrating mining, mineral processing, and metallurgical operations,” Dr. Zhong concluded, thanking all employees for their dedication and wishing them a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year.

Deputy Mine Manager Mr. Mwiinga echoed these sentiments, praising employees for their loyalty and resilience: “This year has been filled with challenges and opportunities, and I am proud to say every single one of you has played a vital role in helping us reach our goals.” He urged employees that, inasmuch as it was an annual awards ceremony, there were no winners and losers, as we all work together as a team. He congratulated the would-be awardees for setting the pace and called for a round of applause to management for organizing and approving such a wonderful and motivating event.

Awarded employees’ representative Arlen Chikumbi also addressed the gathering, commending Zambian workers for their discipline, perseverance, and professionalism. He extended warm wishes for a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2026.

Mr Arlen chikumbi ESG coordinator

Cultural Unity and Celebration

The evening was enriched with diverse performances, including drama, cultural dances, Chinese songs, and a drill display by the security team. A Kaonde cultural song, “Ba Kaonde Kulemba Ba Lamba,” brought vibrancy to the event, while a heartfelt song about unity—The world is big, but happiness is small”—symbolized the bond between Zambian and Chinese employees. Drama performances carried lessons on workplace harmony, emphasizing the importance of mutual support and discouraging jealousy among colleagues. The cultural exchange inspired many local employees to take an interest in learning the Chinese language, further strengthening ties between the two groups.

The night concluded with shared drinks, dinner, and laughter, leaving employees with cherished memories of togetherness.

A Festive Ending

The Sinomine Kitumba Minerals end-of-year awards ceremony was not only a celebration of achievements but also a testament to the company’s vision of growth, unity, and excellence. As employees toasted to Christmas and the New Year, the event underscored the company’s commitment to building a brighter future for Zambia through mining, innovation, and community collaboration.

Sinomine employees and management team