An evaluation of community, government, and the mining industry relationships and policies in Zambia: towards conflict management in the mining sector

ABSTRACT

In this article, I examine the Zambian mining industry and development in the mining sector from the viewpoint of social sustainability. A general history of the mining industry in the Mansa district of Zambia is outlined together with a description of the socio-political conditions of the country. The social sustainability of mining is examined by dissecting local level social conflicts that industrial mining activities have on the studied mining regions. The theoretical framework for this qualitative research is drawn from theories and literature on social impact assessment (SIA) and social sustainability. In addition, to examine community-company relationships, the literature on corporate social responsibility (CSR) is discussed. The empirical data is composed of semi-structured thematic interviews conducted in the manganese belt regions with multiple stakeholders, varying from representatives of mining companies to local residents. The study finds that inadequate legislation, poor environmental monitoring, and problems with governance are inducing multiple negative social impacts. Also, the poor participatory rights allowed to local communities, as well as the unequal distribution of benefits have made contributions to the local social conflicts and economy tangential. This has left the local communities disappointed and increasingly in opposition to the mining industry.