The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on livelihoods around the world, causing many countries to invoke disaster management, and state of emergency laws and regulations, such as imposing nation-wide lockdowns, to combat its spread. The overall socio-economic impact of the pandemic is not yet known but will be felt for many years to come. In Africa, many countries have adopted different measures aimed at striking a balance between containing the virus and economic recovery.  What remains integral to any balancing exercise or solutions for recovery is human rights, in particular, the rights of employees and vulnerable communities to health, clean environment and fair labour practices, amongst others. More often than not, in times of crisis and pandemics, the rights of workers and communities are sacrificed.

The overall socio-economic impact of the pandemic is not yet known but will be felt for many years to come. 

Several economies in  Africa are sustained by the extractive industry with the majority of these countries’ national budgets dependent on mining, oil and gas exports. The survival of these economies will, therefore, largely depend on how the extractive industry is regulated during the fight against the pandemic. In this regard, it is unsurprising that several of these African countries which had imposed nation-wide lockdowns were quick to open the mining industry back up. For instance, South Africa allowed the reopening of mining operations under ‘Level 3’ lockdown regulations permitting mining companies to operate fully. Zimbabwe implemented a nation-wide lockdown but made mining an ‘essential’ service thereby allowing operations to continue. Namibia appeared to have adopted a different approach, as it permitted diamond producers to continue operations despite a partial lockdown. Other countries such as Mozambique, Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo did not completely shut down mines, but some mining houses on their own accord decided to reduce their activities.

Governments and mining companies should ensure more effective checks and balances are implemented to ensure maximum respect for human rights, so that no more lives are lost in the pursuit of profits in efforts to combat this crisis.

Africa represents a key site for the incorporation of human rights norms and logics into the process of responding to the pandemic. Historically, African governments and the extractive industries have placed a greater price on the exploration of mineral resources than on respect for human rights. Governments and mining companies should ensure more effective checks and balances are implemented to ensure maximum respect for human rights, so that no more lives are lost in the pursuit of profits in efforts to combat this crisis. Indeed, the time has come for mining companies to reflect, not only on how they spend their money, but on how they earn their profits. The pandemic makes clear the weakness in the public health system. This, in addition to weak governance and regulation of the mining sector, should prompt the mining industry actors to take special measures to protect vulnerable communities where mining operations are based. This is particularly because mineworks and mining communities are some of the most voiceless and marginalised members of our societies.

Companies should begin to identify different roles they can play to assist government efforts, such as fully equipping mine hospitals, conducting effective onsite screenings and testing. Quarantine facilities for employees who test positive and need to isolate from their families should also be considered to the extent possible. Since COVID-19 spread into Africa, there has been considerable debate among stakeholders on the importance of ongoing mining operations to preserve and prop-up the economy. Some mining unions have argued that operations should remain closed, whilst others have accepted that operations should resume albeit under close monitoring of safety and health conditions. When the South Africa Government allowed the resumption of mining operations, no regard was given to adequate measures to protect the health and safety of workers. Mine workers union had to  approach the court to compel the Minister of Mineral Resources to put in place a code of practice in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act which ensures the safety of mineworkers. The court went further and directed the Minister to consider the impacts of mining affected communities in developing the code of practise.  

The immediate imperative should be to keep everyone safe. Companies are better protected if their employees and the communities in which they operate are also protected. 

This judgement acknowledges the importance of mining affected communities in the fight against the pandemic. Expriences of civil society organisations across the continent such as the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association ( ZELA ), show that mining companies have only been prioritising their workers in terms of PPE while overlooking communities. Companies should not just focus on their workers but also communities as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives yet research conducted by ZELA in mining affected communities shows communities are not getting any support during this crisis.

Although many companies in the continent have indicated that their employees' safety is paramount, their practice does not match their rhetoric. For instance and despite employer assurances, in South Africa, it took a court order for Government to put in place guidelines on the protection of mineworkers. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Minister in charge of  mining  seems more concerned about the economic impacts of the lockdown than the health impacts of resuming operations. The Minister argues that shutting mines down will result in the country “moving from a health crisis to an economic crisis, which would, in turn, lead to a social crisis”.  In Zimbabwe, employees do not feel safe despite assurances from employers prompting mining unions to demand that they be allowed to monitor all operations to ensure the safety of their members.

 Business as usual is not an option. The pre-coronavirus era was stained with violence, greed, inequality, exploitation and oppression. 

The hope is that measures implemented by mining companies in Africa will pay particular attention to ensuring the safety of their employees and surrounding communities. Although it must be noted that, thus far, little  emphasis has been placed on the protection of mining communities. The immediate imperative should be to keep everyone safe. Companies are better protected if their employees and the communities in which they operate are also protected. 

In the long term, COVID-19 presents an opportunity for African governments and mining companies to rethink their socio-economic priorities. Business as usual is not an option. The pre-coronavirus era was stained with violence, greed, inequality, exploitation and oppression. Both governments and mining companies should reflect on the past and craft a new ‘normal’.  One that places lives at the core of operations. Now more than ever, African countries need to ensure broader and deeper reforms to build fast-growing and more inclusive economies. Mining companies too, need to embrace a non-exploitative approach in their business models and take more responsibility in respect of environmental and human rights concerns of their employees and surrounding communities.