Paper short abstract:

The paper analyses the interface of conflict, livelihoods and survival in a peri-urban region where mining and farming core-exist. We use the case study of Greenvale, a peri-urban area in Gweru, a city in the Midlands Region of Zimbabwe.

Paper long abstract:

The paper analyses the interface of conflict, livelihoods and survival in a peri-urban region where mining and farming core-exist. We use the case study of Greenvale, a peri-urban area in Gweru, a city in the Midlands Region of Zimbabwe. Gweru is considered the fourth largest city in the country after Mutare, Bulawayo and Harare. We explore how the co-existence of mining and farming has generated conflict which has delayed sustainable livelihoods and maximum benefit from the exploration of the environment through mining and farming. The conflicts have taken various forms existing within and between the farming and mining communities. These have bred uncertainty, distrust and in the process compromised on sustainable investment in the exploration of the environment be it through mining or farming. Admittedly, there are individuals who have committed themselves to invest heavily in the mining and farming activities in spite of uncertainties and tensions in the area.

Paper short abstract:

Mining-led relocation has intensified resistance to mining in rural South Africa.This contribution argues that resistance to mining could be rooted in the state and business failure to grasp the complexities of rural social and cultural milleau during and after community relocation processes.

Paper long abstract:

South Africa holds more than 80% of the world's platinum reserves. Most platinum deposits are located on rural land belonging to impoverished local communities. Recently, mining-led relocation has triggered local resistance to mining in these areas. Between 2006 and 2015 Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) relocated about 1000 families - more than 7000 people - from two villages in South Africa's Limpopo province. This massive relocation project was to enable Amplats to expand its vast open cast operation. This relocation captured the attention of global audience when a research report by Action Aid (an international human rights NGO) detailed human rights abuses and poor compensation of villagers by the mine. The mine refuted these allegations mainly arguing that its processes were in line with international principles for resettlement management.

This contribution draws on detailed ethnographic research conducted in the relocated village of Ga-Sekhaolelo in South Africa's Limpopo province to demonstrate some of the less reported impacts of mine-led relocation. Our findings detail how cultural dislocation, gender and generational inequalities and tensions at the family level, loss of farming land and livelihoods, and spiritual disconnection with ancestral graves have led to significant community resistance to mining. We argue that, the current policy and global relocation principles do not capture the complexities of the rural social and cultural milleau in Africa, particularly the local meanings of land. Such a phenomenon renders the post-apartheid minerals reform less fulfilling when held against its rhetorical promise of bringing employment opportunities and development.

Paper short abstract:

Dans le Sud-Ouest du Burkina Faso, certaines femmes qui migrent vers les sites aurifères à la recherche de revenus se retrouveraient confrontées à la gestion de leur grossesse dans un contexte social, sanitaire et environnemental très spécifique.

Paper long abstract:

En Afrique de l'Ouest, l'exploitation artisanale de l'or a pris une importance accrue dans le tissu économique vers les années 1980 pour se transformer progressivement en boom minier après une vingtaine d'années. Au Burkina Faso, notamment dans le Sud-Ouest, ce phénomène entraine une forte migration des hommes et des femmes venues des pays voisins (Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Ghana, Niger, Togo et le Bénin) et des autres régions du Burkina Faso vers les sites d'orpaillage à la recherche de revenus.

En dépit de certaines femmes qui suivent leurs maris orpailleurs, le lévirat et le mariage forcé contraignent d'autres à migrer sur les sites. Ces sites deviennent des espaces d'entreprise ; des cadres de vie de ménages dans lesquels se côtoient différents statuts matrimoniaux (célibat et de veuvage). Ainsi, naissent des unions éphémères, de nouvelles familles se constituent et de multiples formes de transactions sexuelles ont lieu. Cette situation nous a amenée à nous interroger sur les questions liées à la maternité sur ces territoires. En effet, sur ces sites, certaines femmes se retrouveraient confrontées à la gestion de leur grossesse dans un contexte social, sanitaire et environnemental très spécifique qui conduit à un exercice du terrain délicat.

Notre communication s'attachera en un premier temps à exposer les différences perceptions sur les grossesses. Nous verrons dans un second temps comment les femmes gèrent leurs grossesses sur les sites aurifères avant d'aborder les conséquences liées à ces grossesses.

Paper short abstract:

The North Western Province in Zambia has been called the new Copperbelt due to the increase in mining activities. These activities are bringing about changes in villages. This paper presents an analysis of the transformations that have taken place in Manyama a village in the shadow of Lumwana mine.

Paper long abstract:

The recent mining activities in the North Western province were a welcome relief for the Zambian economy which had seen a drastic downturn in mining investment and output since the 1990s. The recent exploitation of ore bodies in the North Western Province brought about a heightened level of activity in the predominantly rural region. Settlements like Manyama which are close to the mines have experienced rapid changes as migrants expectant of finding employment in the mines flood the villages. The paper presents results from a study carried out in Manyama which considered the transformations which had taken place in the settlement due to the mines. Manyama is a conglomeration of 15 villages which are experiencing encroachment by urban structures and activities do to their proximity to Lumwana mine. Using a questionnaire, the study interviewed 75 migrants to ascertain why they had moved to Manyama. It also included interviews with village headmen to verify the transformations. The study found that migrants had stimulated both social and morphological transformations in Manyama village which had become more urban in form and function. Despite becoming more urban in form the settlement remains under traditional land tenure which causes complications for the local authority in terms of development planning. The paper argues that the mines should contribute to the planning and development of such settlements which are a source of labour which is critical to the production. The paper also asserts that mining activities have produce 'rural slums' which will cause social problems in future.

Paper short abstract:

Existing research suggests a strong link between mining and local conflict but makes no distinction between artisanal and industrial mining. We study how the mode of extraction affects various types of conflict in Eastern Congo.

Paper long abstract:

Existing research suggests a strong link between mining and local conflict but makes no distinction between artisanal and industrial mining. We exploit variation in mineral prices and the granting of industrial mining concessions to investigate how the mode of extraction affects conflict in Eastern Congo. Rising mineral prices increase battles over artisanal mines, indicating competition between armed groups. This effect is much less pronounced for industrial mining. Moreover, the expansion of industrial mining decreases battles, suggesting that companies can secure their concessions. Such expansion does, however, trigger riots, and when it crowds out artisanal mining, also increases violence against civilians and looting. In line with case-study evidence, these negative effects only materialize when industrial mining companies expand their activities from the research to the production phase.