THE ZAMBIA EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRY PROJECT
PROJECT COORDINATOR: Ms. MEMORY MAKASA
GENESIS OF ZEIP
After privatization of the mining industries in Zambia on the Copperbelt, Caritas Ndola (CCJP- Ndola Diocese) and other stakeholders working in communities carried out an education awareness and research on the issues of Corporate Social Responsibility. The research was conducted and reports were published, among them was “For Whom the Windfalls? Winners and Losers in the privatization of Zambia’s Copper Mines…” This report articulated major problems in the mining sector in Zambia and also captured the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Zambia. In 2007, the latter organised a meeting with Caritas Zambia, Ndola and Solwezi dioceses with the objectives of sharing with the partners the Extractive Industries Concept Paper and solicit for their input. To discuss and plan the road map for developing the full proposal by the end of September 2007 and the Ownership of the project by partners; lead to a project proposal called Zambia Extractive Industries Project. This proposal came with a Problem Statement: Exploitation of natural resources by extractive industries is not adequately contributing to poverty eradication and sustainable development in Zambia.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
- To promote social justice by upholding human dignity and responsibility for all.
- To advocate for just policies to ensure social justice.
- To provide checks and balances in governance issues.
- To advocate for a clean and ecologically friendly environment.
- To provide special care and support for vulnerable people.
TARGET GROUPS
The targeted groups for this project are the children, the youths, the physically challenged, and the poor men and women living in mining polluted areas.
OPERATION SITES OF THE PROJECT
As ZEIP operate in Chingola, Luanshya, Bwana Mukubwa Mine, Mufulira, Chambishi, Kitwe and Ndola’s Chiwala area.
IMPACT OF THE PROJECT IN SOCIETY
The impacts of the programme in the lives of the people is change of mindset, capacity building, awareness of the Social Teachings of the Church and sound knowledge are some of the impacts of this programme in society or the people’s lives.
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PROJECT
The major achievements of this project are that we have managed promote social justice by upholding human dignity and responsibility for all. Advocating for just policies to ensure social justice, and providing checks and balances in governance issues is also one of the achievements. Ensuring that the environment is clean and ecologically friendly and providing special care and support for vulnerable people
COLLABORATING PARTNERS
This project has been supported by a number of donors, namely, Canadian Development and Peace, Caritas Norway whose funding is received through Caritas Zambia.
Under ZEIP we are also working with Action Aid Zambia with Fair Green Global Programme. This programme is been implemented in Chingola.