Too Much Research ‘BUT’ Little Impact
In the last 10 years, a number of organisations have undertaken research in various
communities in Zambia, especially the poor communities. There has been very little or
no positive impact to show for these researches on the lives of the people in these
communities. Despite the number of research work invested in these communities, the
people living in these communities have remained poor. There is a need for nongovernment organisations and government to take necessary self-introspection and take
actions that will enhance the well-being of most poor in our society.
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) is currently undertaking a Social
Investment Mapping Exercise in the mining communities of Lumwana, Kalumbila and
Kansanshi. This exercise has entailed talking to various stakeholders, among them the
communities where the mining activities are taking place. The objective of the mapping
exercise is to draw a baseline on which the JCTR will measure the impact of its future
advocacy efforts in North-Western Province.
However, the implementation of this
exercise has not been without hesitancy from members of communities to freely interact
and give information to the JCTR research team.
In several communities, members showed reluctance to interact with the team, especially
about their living conditions. The communities’ reluctance to interact with the team about
their living conditions comes in the wake of their past experiences with various
stakeholders. Various organisations and individuals have visited them and collected data
about their well-being. When these organisations and individuals have gone, no feedback
or action has come forth. To-date, they continue to experience the same difficulties that
they had complained about. For example: lack of access to clean and safe water across
all communities, cracking of walls of houses in Kakaindu caused by blasting in the mine,
lack of admitting bed space and no ambulance at the clinic in Khulumazhila area and
overcrowding in classrooms in most schools. At Manyama Basic School, for example,
one small classroom would have up to 120 pupils.
When the JCTR research team visited the communities, community members sought to
understand where data and information various organisations and individuals collected
end-up. This concern by poor communities surrounding Lumwana, Kalumbila and
Kansanshi mines and probably, many other areas where much research has been done
on people’s living conditions and the challenges communities face are well-known but yet
no improvement has been seen, requires thorough reflection and urgent and robust
action.
Communities are not asking for luxuries but basic necessities, such as having access to
clean and safe water, access to quality health care services and basic skills and support
to thrive in agriculture. All this is meant for them to enjoy their dignity as human persons,
created in the image and likeness of God. To ensure and to facilitate poor communities’
lives improve for the better, there is therefore need for the following immediate actions as
outlined in proceeding paragraphs.
Apart from non-government organisations, it is certain that even government is aware of
the challenges of most poor communities in the country.
Communities like those
surrounding Lumwana, Kalumbila and Kansanshi Mines need update and feedback from
their representatives, government and non-government organisations of what is being
done to their well-known and forwarded challenges. In this way, together with these
communities, solutions will be found to poor communities’ problems.
There is need for non-government organisations and Civil Society to involve communities
in their advocacy. What these poor communities need most is for capacity to be built in
them and for them to be well-informed. Non-government organisations need to facilitate
this process. This approach will enhance the communities’ capacities to engage with
relevant and various duty bearers.
The Government similarly has a huge role to ensure equity in the benefit to national
wealth. Currently, considering that government is in serious discussion with mining
companies over tax payment, there is need to ensure that what is finally agreed upon
ensures fair benefit to both Zambia and Investors. For both the Zambian government and
investors, there is need to ensure deliberate measures are taken to ensure poor
communities that give up land for economic activities like mining, like in the case of
communities surrounding Lumwana, Kalumbila and Kansanshi mines; they benefit more
from such activities. It is really unjust for communities like those surrounding Lumwana,
Kalumbila and Kansanshi mines to have no access to clean and safe water, lack well
stocked and equipped health facilities, lack proper roads and lack adequate classroom
spaces in schools when profit making mining is being done in their areas.
There is also need for the Zambian government to ensure stringent measures are put in
place to safeguard public funds including contributions from mining and ensuring that
funds are prudently used by both the central and local government including councils.
Finally in concluding just to emphasise that there is urgent need for appropriate actions,
such as ensuring fair taxation in the mining sector, actualising strengthened corporate
social responsibility and social accountability if the suffering among citizens in Zambia is
to be eradicated.
By Innocent Ndashe
innocent@jesuits.org.zm