Legal Reforms as a Tool for Sustainable Development in Former Mining Communities: A Case Study of Kabwe Lead-Zinc Mine, Zambia

Abstract

The mining legacy in Zambia has seen the rise and fall of towns
and cities built around the mines which flourish when the mine
is in its operational phase but perish once the mine closes.
Sustainable Development initiatives at the regional and
international level have been formulated and agreed upon for
community development requirements in mining laws for
resource rich countries to implement in their countries. A
research study was established to, investigate the effects of the
closure of Kabwe lead-zinc in Zambia, on the local community
in the context of sustainable development, and examine the laws
and policies that affect the mining sector in the country. This
was to ascertain the impact that these have on communities
adjacent to mining operations, across the mine life cycle and
propose what legal reforms can be enacted to actualize the
concept of sustainable development in the mining communities.
A mixed research approach was adopted using both the
quantitative and qualitative methods. Purposive and snowballing
sampling techniques were used to select respondents. A total of
100 questionnaires were administered as and the study received
a response of 79%. Closed and open questionnaires, focus group
discussions and interview guides were used to collect data from
respondents. The study revealed that due to lack of laws on the
sustainable development of the mining community at the time of
the closure of the of the mine in Kabwe, economic activities
dwindled and most former mine workers have ended up being
engaged in other activities, mostly agriculture to earn a living.
The study also revealed the need to have laws in place to
regulate the mine closure in terms of benefits, but revealed a
general lack of understanding on the concept of sustainable