“Empowering Communities to Demand Socio-Economic Rights and Benefits from the Mining of Energy Transition Minerals in Southern Africa”
In June 2025, we launched a groundbreaking regional initiative to strengthen community voices and accountability in the mining of critical energy transition minerals across four countries: Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Mozambique. The project, Empowering Communities to Demand Socio-Economic Rights and Benefits from the Mining of Energy Transition Minerals, aims to develop locally driven solutions that reinforce the growing consensus that mining revenues from critical minerals must lead to tangible improvements in local livelihoods, environmental protection, and long-term climate resilience.
At the heart of this initiative is the belief that communities affected by mining must have a voice and share in the benefits of critical minerals supply and value chains. These communities – often situated in resource-rich yet infrastructure-deficient areas – should be able to claim their rights to clean water, healthcare, education, energy access, and a healthy environment. We are working at this vital intersection of climate justice, extractive resource governance, and inclusive local development.
Rising Demand for Critical Energy Transition Minerals: A Moment to Redefine Mining’s Role
As the global push for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and digital infrastructure intensifies, demand for minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt, nickel, and graphite increases, putting Southern Africa in the international spotlight. However, despite these minerals driving the worldwide transition, many local communities affected by mining continue to face poverty, pollution, and neglect.
By empowering communities, engaging in policy dialogue, and involving corporations, the initiative advocates for fairer benefit-sharing mechanisms and greater corporate accountability. To support this, a baseline survey approach has been designed to gain a deeper understanding of the complex factors involved.
Baseline Studies in Progress
Baseline studies are currently underway in the four countries. In Mutoko, researchers have completed community consultations and conducted a detailed baseline study to assess local conditions as multinational companies expand their lithium mining activities. This involved conducting 100 household interviews, along with key informant interviews and focus group discussions.
In Zambia, the survey team focused on mining activities in Kalumbila and Solwezi, concentrating on mines operated by First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and Barrick Lumwana, which are major players in large-scale copper and nickel extraction. Several key stakeholders and local institutions were interviewed, including the Kabwela community near the Kansanshi Mine (FQM), the Manyama community close to the Lumwana Mine (Barrick Gold), and the Chitungu community near the Kalumbila Mine (FQM). In each community, targeted group discussions were held, along with the administration of 40 household questionnaires. Local governance and traditional leaders also participated, such as Solwezi Municipal Council, Kalumbila Town Council, Chief Musele’s Traditional Establishment, and the Lumwana Community Trust, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the mining impacts and community needs.
In July 2025, field activities will extend to Kolwezi in the DRC and Balama in Mozambique. In Kolwezi, renowned for its cobalt and copper industries, the surveys will focus on CMOC (Tenke Fungurume Mining). Meanwhile, in Balama, the emphasis will be on Syrah Resources’ graphite operations and their effects on local communities and development.
Use of Tools for Accountability and Inclusion
We are enhancing participatory tools to improve community oversight, including Community Score Cards for monitoring mining-funded projects and CSR, as well as local leadership training for civil society, traditional leaders, and youth, and policy dialogue forums for companies, authorities, and residents. These tools go beyond complaints, seeking to find rights-based remedies tailored to local needs and circumstances.
Dr. Kabemba, SARW’s Executive Director, accurately describes this initiative: “This is our small way of joining other partners in working with local communities in building a social contract rooted in rights, fair benefit sharing, and effective ways to address grievances.” He further emphasises: “When mining companies collaborate on sustainable local development, local governments actively involve and are accountable to communities, and individuals feel dignified and empowered to participate and give free, prior and informed consent to mining projects, then sustainable livelihoods develop. That’s how we recognise that a social licence has been granted and a just transition is genuinely occurring.”
