ECONOMIST Dr Lubinda Haabazoka says the country should use escalating copper prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) as an opportunity to enhance tax collection through mineral royalties. Dr Haabazoka adds that the country’s increased international reserves of $5.2 billion mean security in terms of import cover. As of Monday, December 8, 2025, the official cash settlement price for copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was over $11,000 per tonne.
In an interview, Tuesday, Dr Haabazoka advised the country to use the foreign exchange inflows to boost reserves, not for increased expenditure. “I think that with high copper prices, the country should use this opportunity to enhance tax collection in this sector and use the foreign exchange inflows not… Do you agree that child defilers should be castrated?
