The Editor Zambia
The planned reopening of Luanshya copper mine in August 2026 is expected to breathe new life into one of Zambia’s most historic mining towns, with many residents already anticipating a return of jobs, business activity and renewed social confidence.
For a town that has for years battled economic decline and the painful “ghost town” label, the restart of mining operations under the New Deal UPND government marks a turning point similar to the reopening of the Zambia- China Mulungushi Textiles in Kabwe. 
Luanshya has long been synonymous with Zambia’s copper story. Once among the most vibrant towns on the Copperbelt, it thrived on the fortunes of the Roan Antelope mine and surrounding mining activity.
However, prolonged shutdowns, care-and-maintenance periods, and uncertainty over investment caused businesses to collapse, unemployment to rise, and many families to sink into hardship.
Now, with China Nonferrous Mining Corporation preparing to restart production after more than two decades of inactivity, hope is returning.
The mine is projected to produce up to 100,000 metric tonnes of copper annually by 2030, while the redevelopment of Shaft 28, backed by a US$710 million investment, signals serious long-term commitment.
For Luanshya residents, the most immediate impact will be employment.
Mining operations require engineers, machine operators, artisans, drivers, security officers, cleaners, caterers, and a host of contractors.
This means both skilled and unskilled labour will benefit. Youths who had lost hope or migrated to other towns in search of opportunities may now choose to remain and build futures at home.
The reopening will also revive the local business ecosystem. When miners earn salaries, they spend in local markets, shops, bus stations, restaurants, and housing rentals.
Tailors sew uniforms, welders repair equipment, transporters move goods, and farmers find customers for produce. This multiplier effect is often what transforms a town from stagnation to activity.
Socially, the reopening carries equal significance. Joblessness often breeds frustration, crime, alcohol abuse, and family instability.
When households regain income, children return to school, health care improves, and communities regain dignity. Luanshya’s identity has always been linked to productivity and order, and residents are eager to reclaim that heritage.
The story mirrors what has happened in Kabwe with the reopening of Mulungushi Textiles by President Hakainde Hichilema.
Like Luanshya, Kabwe, once a thriving industrial centre, suffered severe decline after factory closures and the weakening of major industries.
The reopening of Zambia-China Mulungushi Textiles has therefore become more than an industrial event; it is the restoration of confidence in a town many had written off.
Like Luanshya, Kabwe needed a dependable economic anchor, and Mulungushi Textiles now offers employment, supports cotton farmers through outgrower schemes, and provides a market for local raw materials.
It has created optimism where there was once despair.
The government procurement of uniforms from the plant has further guaranteed a stable market, ensuring that the revival is practical rather than symbolic.
The key lesson from both Luanshya and Kabwe is that productive industries do more than generate profits. They create communities.
A mine or factory supports transport operators, landlords, food vendors, mechanics, schools, and clinics. It creates a chain of opportunities that spreads across families and generations.
In Luanshya’s case, the mine reopening may also stimulate infrastructure improvements. Roads, water systems, power supply, and housing are often upgraded when mining activity resumes.
Investors and banks become more willing to finance new enterprises when a town has a clear economic future. This can trigger broader urban renewal.
Comparatively, Mulungushi Textiles demonstrates the value of diversification. While mining remains crucial, Zambia’s future lies in combining minerals with manufacturing, agriculture, and value addition.
Luanshya can learn from Kabwe by encouraging parallel industries such as engineering workshops, agro-processing, and small-scale manufacturing to complement mining.
Residents in both towns understand what industrial silence feels like. Empty streets, closed shops, and abandoned buildings are painful reminders of economic neglect.
That is why the reopening of Luanshya Mine and Mulungushi Textiles means far more than restarting machinery. It is about restoring pride, purpose, and hope.
As August approaches, Luanshya stands on the threshold of a new chapter. If the momentum is sustained, the town could once again become one of Zambia’s shining economic centres.
Together with Kabwe’s textile revival, it sends a strong national message: dormant towns can rise again when investment meets leadership and vision.
