Zambia: Trafigura Appoints Chipokota Mwanawasa As Executive Director

Global commodities trader Trafigura has appointed Chipokota Mwanawasa as its executive director for Zambia, according to a company statement cited by local media.

Mwanawasa brings more than 10 years of experience in the mining, energy, infrastructure and agriculture sectors to the role, the statement said.

She previously served as a policy adviser to Zambia’s president, advising on economic policy, foreign investment and sectoral reforms, local news outlet Kalemba reported.

She also served as deputy head of the Presidential Delivery Unit, supporting the implementation of Zambia’s National Development Plan, and previously worked at Konkola Copper Mines, one of the country’s largest copper producers.

In her new role, Mwanawasa will coordinate Trafigura’s operations in Zambia across metals and minerals, energy and related logistics, including strategic business development.

Based in Lusaka, she will also lead the company’s engagement with commercial, institutional and government stakeholders.

Her responsibilities will include supporting Trafigura’s subsidiaries operating in Zambia, including fuel storage and distribution company Puma Energy and Servara, the group’s logistics, storage and transport business.

Trafigura said it had operated in Zambia for more than 20 years and, together with its subsidiaries, employed about 300 people in the country.

Through Servara, the company operates 29,000 square metres of storage space in Ndola, while Puma Energy runs about 74 fuel retail sites, four terminals and three aviation fuel sites across Zambia.

Mwanawasa said Zambia played a central role in the global supply of copper and other metals and minerals, while energy remained important to the country’s economic development.

“I am proud to be joining Trafigura and look forward to working with the team to strengthen our relationships within the country, and to building on the strong foundation the Group has already established in Zambia,” she said.

Trafigura’s global head of metals and minerals, Gonzalo De Olazaval, said Mwanawasa’s experience in Zambia’s mining, energy and policy sectors positioned her well to lead the company’s activities.

He said the appointment reflected Trafigura’s long-term commitment to Zambia and its customers in the region.