African communities push back against mining-induced land displacement
The call was made during the African Ecofeminism Convening that took place in Harare from July 6 to 10, where delegates from Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and other African countries shared growing concerns over the human cost of extractive industries.
Participants said many communities are being forced off ancestral land with little consultation, inadequate compensation and limited involvement in decisions that directly affect their future. (Courtesy photo)
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Community leaders, legal experts and grassroots organisations from across Africa have renewed calls for governments, mining companies and international financiers to protect community land rights, warning that unchecked mining and large-scale development projects continue to displace families, destroy livelihoods and erode cultural heritage.
The call was made during the African Ecofeminism Convening that took place in Harare from July 6 to 10, where delegates from Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and other African countries shared growing concerns over the human cost of extractive industries.
Participants said many communities are being forced off ancestral land with little consultation, inadequate compensation and limited involvement in decisions that directly affect their future.
They argued that development should not come at the expense of the very people whose land and resources are being exploited.
Representing Uganda, GreenFaith Africa lawyer Tricia Abwooli highlighted forced displacement, loss of ancestral land and environmental pollution as some of the most pressing challenges facing mining-affected communities.
"Women and children often suffer the greatest consequences of pollution and disrupted livelihoods," she noted.
Abwooli also criticised compensation packages that fail to reflect long-term social, cultural and economic losses, while pointing to weak enforcement of land protection laws, limited access to justice and a lack of transparency in mining licences and development agreements.
Delegates also heard from representatives of Zimbabwe's Hanyanya community, who shared how organised community action, including research, documentation, legal advocacy and peaceful mobilisation, helped delay harmful mining projects while securing improved compensation and commitments for schools, clinics and other public services.
Movement legal advisor, Tapiwa Gorejena, called for stronger legal action against governments and corporations that violate community rights, saying strategic litigation, class-action lawsuits and international legal mechanisms remain critical tools for holding duty-bearers accountable.
Participants also encouraged communities across Africa to work together by sharing legal strategies, evidence and successful advocacy models.
Concerns were further raised over international investment agreements that prioritise commercial interests while excluding local communities from decisions about their land. Delegates called for greater transparency, stronger accountability and legally binding safeguards to ensure affected communities are protected.
The convening concluded with a commitment to strengthen public awareness of land and environmental rights, expand access to legal support and build stronger networks among grassroots organisations across the continent.
Participants also pledged to explore legal avenues for challenging harmful mining projects and advancing community-led accountability mechanisms.
The delegates maintained that sustainable development can only be achieved when communities are fully consulted, fairly compensated and empowered to participate in decisions affecting their land, livelihoods and future.