CHINGOLA, ZAMBIA —Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has today announced the K200,000 sponsorship towards the hosting of the 2026 KCM Kopala Inter-Company Relay under the theme “Celebrating Corporate Partnerships, Health and Wellness –By Acting Together, We Can Win,”in partnership with Zambia Athletics. 

This year’s Inter-company relay’s key message “One Baton. One Team. One Goal, reaffirms the mine’s support for programmes that promote health and wellness while contributing to the development of athletics in Zambia. 

The relay that will be held at Nchanga Stadium on 17 October 2026 will provide a platform for participating organisations to engage in a day of athletics, team building, networking and wellness activities while strengthening relationships and demonstrating the value of collaboration both within and beyond the workplace. 

Speaking at the event, KCM Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Mr Satish Kumar, said KCM was proud to support an initiative that brings organisations together around shared goals of health, wellness and teamwork.

“As KCM, we are proud to support the KCM Kopala Inter-Company Relay with a sponsorship of K200,000. This initiative brings together corporate partners around health, wellness and teamwork, values that are important to building healthier and stronger communities. We believe that by acting together, we can win, and we are pleased to be part of an initiative that also contributes to the growth of the sports fraternity in Zambia,” Mr Kumar said.

Meanwhile, Zambia Athletics President, Major Bernard Bwalya, expressed appreciation for KCM’s continued support, noting that the 2026 edition marks the second consecutive year that KCM has sponsored the Inter-Company Relay.

“We sincerely thank KCM for its continued support and commitment to sport. This is the second consecutive year that KCM has sponsored the Inter-Company Relay, demonstrating its belief in the value of sport, health and wellness, corporate engagement and the development of athletics in Zambia. The relay has grown into an important platform that brings companies together, promotes employee wellness, networking, and provides opportunities for talent identification and development.” Major Bwalya said.

The Inter-Company Relay has a proud history and has been in existence for more than 26 years having been launched1999.It has grown into a platform that brings together organizations from different parts of the country. Previously only held in Lusaka, Zambia Athletics has decentralized the sporting event to be held in other provinces such as the Copperbelt, in order to drive inclusive participation. It also serves as a platform to identify talent and be able to send athletes to represent the country during Pan African and International competitions.  This year’s event is expected to attract more than 50 organisations, with over 1,000 participants and spectators. 

The 2026 KCM Kopala Inter-Company Relay will also be integrated with the KCM Sports Day, featuring a range of sporting and recreational activities alongside the relay races. The programme will include a 10-kilometre corporate race, as well as races involving CEOs and management teams.

KCM’s partnership with Zambia Athletics also extends to supporting the Nchanga Athletics Club and Konkola Athletics Club, contributing to the development and participation of athletes in the sport.

This year’s event seeks to strengthen corporate partnerships while encouraging employees, families and the community at large to embrace healthier and more active lifestyles and creating opportunities to identify and nurture emerging athletic talent in Zambia.

About KCM

Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Plc is one of Zambia’s largest copper producers, owned by Vedanta Resources (79.4%) and ZCCM-IH (20.6%).

KCM  operates  mining  and  processing  facilities  in  Chingola,  Chililabombwe,  Kitwe  and Nampundwe.

With an investment pledge of over US$1 billion by Vedanta, KCM is focused on unlocking key operations,  including  the  KonkolaDeep  Mining Project  (KDMP)  in  Chililabombwe,  and increasing copper production to 300,000 tonnes per year.

Issued by KCM Corporate Affairs