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Foreign direct investment in Zambian mining sector : the need for environmental protection and human rights

Mini Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2017.

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Other Authors: Hansungule, Michelo
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2018
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Hansungule, Michelo
author_browse Hansungule, Michelo
author_facet Hansungule, Michelo
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2018 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Mini Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2017.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
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license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2018
publishDateRange 2018
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publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/64626 Foreign direct investment in Zambian mining sector : the need for environmental protection and human rights Hansungule, Michelo mulenga.chipasha@gmail.com Mulenga, Chipasha UCTD Environmental protection Foreign direct investment (FDI) Zambia Environmental Management Agency Mining pollution Law theses SDG-09 SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure Mini Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2017. Promotion of foreign direct investment in Zambia’s mining sector has been a key priority of the government ever since large scale mining commenced in the country. The sector, which confers on the country numerous benefits either from the economic or social front, has continued to grow with a number of mines being opened in most parts of the country. However, mining, by nature, leads to degradation of the environment and consequently affects the right of persons to enjoy a clean, safe and healthy environment. In light of this, it became imperative that a study is undertaken to investigate the extent to which the environment and human rights are protected from the effects of mining activities in Zambia. The purpose of undertaking this study is to suggest an approach that could be adopted in order to ensure protection of the environment from the negative effects of mining activities. In achieving this goal, a comparative approach was embraced and a qualitative method of data collection employed. The study has revealed that foreign direct investment, environmental protection, and human rights are interrelated with one common objective– enhancing the livelihood of human beings. This is evident from the policies developed and legislation enacted to protect human rights and also control mining activities in Zambia. The study has also revealed that at the international level, standards have been developed to ensure minimisation of the effects of mining activities on the environment. However, these standards are not legally binding. A key finding of the study is that although there a number of domestic policies (such as the Mineral Resources Development Policy and National Policy on Environment) and legislation (Environmental Management Act and the Mines and Mineral Development Act) that prescribe the expected standards to be upheld by mining companies, these do not contain adequate mechanisms to curtail environmentally degrading mining activities. Furthermore, institutions such as the Human Rights Commission, Mines Safety Department and Zambia Environmental Management Agency that have the responsibility of ensuring that mining companies comply with the applicable legislation have not been effective in this regard largely as a result of the numerous challenges that they face, including insufficient funding, inadequate capacity and political interference. This has led some spirited non-governmental organisations to bring court actions against erring mining companies. The analysis of the decisions rendered by the courts shows that the courts have, in these cases, taken a dim view of claims brought before them by complainants against the actions of respondent mining companies. The thesis concludes that while there has been an increase in investment in the mining sector, there are no corresponding legislative or policy measures to curtail mining activities that have negative impacts on the environment. The absence of such measures has left mining companies at liberty to act with impunity at the expense of a sound environment and consequentially, protection of the human rights of persons that live in the vicinity of the mines. It is therefore argued that the framework for foreign investment has neither facilitated protection of the environment nor guaranteed respect for human rights. In order to address this problem, a suggestion is made to the effect that Zambia's legislation needs to adopt some of the best practices that exist in the mining and environmental legislation enacted by some SADC Member States. Doing so would ensure mutual reinforcement of the framework on foreign direct investment and mining on the one hand, and environmental protection and human rights on the other. Centre for Human Rights LLD Unrestricted 2018-04-19T07:22:15Z 2018-04-19T07:22:15Z 08-12-17 2017 Thesis Mulenga, C 2017, Foreign direct investment in Zambian mining sector : the need for environmental protection and human rights, LLD Thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/64626> D2017 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/64626 en © 2018 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Environmental protection
Foreign direct investment (FDI)
Zambia Environmental Management Agency
Mining pollution
Law theses SDG-09
SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Foreign direct investment in Zambian mining sector : the need for environmental protection and human rights
title Foreign direct investment in Zambian mining sector : the need for environmental protection and human rights
title_full Foreign direct investment in Zambian mining sector : the need for environmental protection and human rights
title_fullStr Foreign direct investment in Zambian mining sector : the need for environmental protection and human rights
title_full_unstemmed Foreign direct investment in Zambian mining sector : the need for environmental protection and human rights
title_short Foreign direct investment in Zambian mining sector : the need for environmental protection and human rights
title_sort foreign direct investment in zambian mining sector the need for environmental protection and human rights
topic UCTD
Environmental protection
Foreign direct investment (FDI)
Zambia Environmental Management Agency
Mining pollution
Law theses SDG-09
SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/64626