ZCCM-IH Returns K2.4 Billion to Shareholders in 11 Years

ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH) has returned approximately K2.4 billion to shareholders through dividend payments over the past 11 years, demonstrating its continued contribution to Government revenue and national economic development.

The company has declared a total dividend of approximately K183 million for the 2025 financial year, with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), its majority shareholder, expected to receive K109.5 million.

The Ministry of Finance and National Planning will receive K31.18 million, while the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) will receive approximately K27 million. The balance will be distributed among about 5,000 other shareholders in Zambia and abroad.

Speaking during the dividend cheque handover ceremony in Lusaka on Monday, October 12, 2026, ZCCM-IH Board Chairperson Phesto Musonda said the latest payment marked the company’s 11th consecutive annual dividend since 2015.

Mr. Musonda said the company had continued rewarding shareholders despite challenges, including volatile copper prices, drought, the COVID-19 pandemic and Zambia’s debt restructuring process.

He attributed the lower dividend compared with the previous year’s record payment to provisions made for a legacy legal matter and the appreciation of the Kwacha, which reduced the local-currency value of the company’s dollar-denominated assets.

However, Mr. Musonda said ZCCM-IH’s investment income increased by 40 percent in 2025, supported by returns from its investments, including Kansanshi, Maamba Energy and Copperbelt Energy Corporation.

He also disclosed that the company had repaid 150 million United States dollars to Glencore in April, settling its legacy debt, while its market valuation had surpassed one billion United States dollars.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Economic Management and Investments at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Mulele Mulele, commended the ZCCM-IH Board, management and staff for strengthening the company’s financial performance and enhancing shareholder value.

Mr. Mulele said the dividend payment demonstrated the importance of prudent investment management, sound corporate governance and accountability in ensuring that public investments generated tangible financial returns for the benefit of Zambians.

He urged the company to strengthen its investment portfolio, improve profitability and pursue commercially viable opportunities that would contribute to employment creation, foreign exchange generation and domestic revenue mobilization.

And IDC Group Chief Executive Officer Cornwell Muleya called on ZCCM-IH to rebuild its earnings and cash generation capacity to ensure stronger and more sustainable dividend payments in the future.

Mr. Muleya said the company’s market capitalization of one billion United States dollars reflected growing investor confidence, supported by improvements in its share price and net asset value.

He said the forthcoming ten-year strategy should provide a clear roadmap for disciplined investment, stronger operational performance and long-term shareholder value creation.

Mr Muleya further emphasised the importance of aligning ZCCM-IH’s investments with national development priorities, including Zambia’s targets of increasing annual copper production to three million tonnes and expanding electricity generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts.

He said investments in the mining and energy sectors should also create opportunities for local suppliers, promote skills development, generate employment and deliver tangible benefits to host communities.

ZCCM-IH has indicated that it will unveil its new ten-year strategy at a Shareholder Open Day scheduled for November 2026, as it seeks to expand its investment portfolio and strengthen its contribution to Zambia’s economic transformation.