Women are being negatively and disproportionately affected by the mining industries in Zambia as a growing body of evidence shows. Whilst communities of people living in poverty generally have been shown not to benefit from mining, women and children face specific challenges and are the most adversely impacted by mining extractives. These impacts range from only having access to the lowest paid work, if any, to severe health issues caused by pollution. In addition there are several gaps in the legal framework leaving women’s rights unprotected...

Environmental Impacts affecting Women: The reported environmental impact that copper mining induces include air and water pollution through emissions, including emissions of sulphurdioxide from smelter stacks, which also cause lead and cadmium poisoning...

Social/ Cultural Impacts affecting Women...

Economic Impacts affecting Women: The employment opportunities that there are in mining areas tend to taken by men rather than women... One of the greatest impacts is the loss of land and livelihoods... Many women have lost access to land used for gardening and farming. They also no longer have access to forest resources which they depended on...

[includes testimony from Margaret Chisanga, resident of Konkoyo, about impacts of Mopani Copper Mine (joint venture Glencore, First Quantum, ZCCM Investment Holdings]