Desiderius Chapewa | Chief Geologist
Ministry of Mines And Minerals Development, Zambia

Desiderius Chapewa is a geologist with more than 19 years’ work experience in the mining and exploration industry. He has expertise in the field of geoscience business and applications. He has held various key roles in mineral resource management, exploration operations strategies, and conceptual studies in mineral production & simulated profits.
Desiderius began his career as a trainee geologist in 2001 at Konkola Copper Mines, where he worked on copper and cobalt production geology, grade controls, and updating mineral resources and reserves schedules for both underground and opencast mining operations. In 2004, he completed his honours degree and joined an Australian Listed Company, Zambezi Resources Limited, where he worked on gold and nickel exploration tenements. After his contract ended with Zambezi Resources Limited in 2006, he established his consulting firm and worked on various exploration operations and mineral resources management.
In 2008, he joined Denison Mines Corp a Canadian Listed Company as a project geologist exploring for uranium minerals. He was later promoted to database geologist, managing, and coordinating the uranium portfolio from 2009 to 2013. In 2014, he joined the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development as a geologist and was eventually promoted to the position of Chief Geologist in 2019, where he currently serves.
As the Country’s Chief Geologist, Desiderius coordinates all geophysical and geochemical surveys, as well as conducting geological mapping, monitoring seismic activities, coordinating research projects in geoscience within Zambia. He is also responsible for maintaining the National Geological Database on Zambia's mineral resources, ore reserves, and mining operations.