Community and company capacity: the challenge of resource-led development in Zambia's 'New Copperbelt': Fid-Bau Portal

Community and company capacity: the challenge of resource-led development in Zambia's 'New Copperbelt'

Van Alstine, James / Afionis, Stavros

Relationships between the extractive industries, society and development are often symbolized by unfulfilled expectations and even conflict. Poor, rural, politically marginalized and indigenous communities are often significantly impacted by the extraction of fuel and non-fuel minerals. This paper explores the challenge of resource-led development in Zambia's ‘New Copperbelt’ (i.e. the Northwestern Province). It explains how Kansanshi, a mid-tier mining company, has struggled with various community development aspects, including resettlement and compensation, hiring and employment, the maintaining of local government interactions and formulating a coherent corporate social responsibility (CSR) and infrastructure project strategy. Findings suggest that community capacity to hold Kansanshi and local government to account is relatively weak. Recommendations include aligning CSR strategies with district, regional and national development objectives, as well as building linkages between local civil society organizations and national/international non-governmental organizations. This would enable communities around the mine to share experiences, lessons learnt and effective company and local government engagement strategies.