Zambia, Africa's top copper producer, has said its revised law governing mining is expected to be ready next year to help attract more foreign investors and provide more incentives to local investors.

Minister of Mines Yamfwa Mukanga said the 2008 Mines and Minerals Development Act, which is currently under review, will look at best ways of empowering local people to benefit immensely from the natural mineral resources, according to Tuesday's issue of the Zambia Daily Mail.

"We have started looking at pieces of legislation which can change the lives of our people. Issues of small-scale miners who have licenses only and have never done mining are key. So we are trying to help them by grouping them up and get big investors to partner with them so that they can get value for money and create more jobs," he was quoted as saying.

According to him, the government is aware of the problems being faced by mining firms and the new law is to address all their problems.