‘How a Canadian mining giant infiltrated Zambia’s democracy’ 21 July 2026

…evidence suggesting that for the last two decades, FQM and its associates have run a covert influence campaign over Zambia’s democracy, including allegedly bankrolling the president’s party, and that since 2021 they have reaped significant benefits. This is more than just a story about Zambia. It’s a case study in how powerful extractive companies that generate huge profits can exploit weaknesses in democratic systems, working with consulting firms and billionaire influence networks that span the globe… The company was one of the UPND’s major funders during the opposition years, according to six sources with knowledge of the matter, including a former FQM employee and a former key member of Hichilema’s campaign team. Four sources with inside knowledge told Global Witness how the Canadian-listed company has now become the largest funder of Hichilema’s party ahead of the August election. This is despite the UPND claiming that the 2026 campaign would accept no foreign funding.

…A former FQM employee said the mining giant told Hichilema it was willing to spend up to $50 million to ensure he won the election. “To you and me, $50 million sounds a lot of money,” he said, but he pointed out that FQM Zambia’s turnover is in the billions. “So what is $50 million?” he said. “It can easily be absorbed on the expenditure side and just be delivered as cash without affecting their reporting standards.” Global Witness does not allege that financial support of this magnitude from a foreign-registered business breaches Zambian domestic electoral or political donation laws, or is otherwise illegal.

FQM categorically rejected allegations that the company had bankrolled the UPND or President Hichilema and told us they are “entirely unfounded and appear to be based on unsubstantiated speculation rather than any verifiable facts.” The company said it was “deeply concerning … to anyone who cares about democracy in Zambia, that Global Witness would attempt to disrupt the general election by publishing false, malicious and unsubstantiated allegations based on hearsay.” The company said it was subject to independent audit and that it was unclear how it would be able to absorb up to $50 million in expenditures without affecting its reporting standards, let alone to deliver such payments. There was no pay-off meeting at the Royal Zambezi Lodge, Global Witness was told. FQM said it has robust anti-corruption and compliance controls in place everywhere it operates and “has never paid, offered, or authorised the payment of bribes to any politician, regulator, or government official in any country.”