LUND UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL MASTER’S PROGRAMME IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE An Assessment of the Economic, Social and Environmental Impacts of the Mining Industry A Case Study of Copper Mining in Zambia AUTHOR: SUPERVISOR: Priscilla Kaela Kangwa Dr Ransom Lekunze, Copperbelt Museum Department of Social and Economic Geography Buteko Avenue Lund University P.O Box 71444 Sölvegatan 12 Ndola 223 62 Lund Zambia. Sweden. Phone: +260 22617727 Phone: +46 739397478 Email:
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[email protected] May, 2008 1 ACKNOWLEGEMENTS First and foremost I would like to pay special gratitude to my employer, Copperbelt Museum for the financial and moral support they have given me during my studies in Sweden. Special mention goes to the Director, Mr. Siachoono and all the employees at the Museum. I would be out of line if I did not acknowledge the invaluable support and guidance provided by my supervisor, Ransom Lekunze during the conceptualization of the thesis and finally the write up. I would also like to thank LUMES professors who in one way or the other contributed to my successfully finishing the programme. I would also like to pay special appreciation to Fadina for his constructive criticism which helped shape the paper. Lastly I would like to pay my special gratitude to all my LUMES friends who made my stay in Sweden memorable. DEDICATION My special acknowledgement go to my sister Matilda Kangwa who has been a driving force behind who am today and this thesis is dedicated to her for making me. ABSTRACT The mining and mineral industry as sources of primary export income plays an important role in the economic and socio-political development of many developing countries, as these countries largely depend on the mining for their economic development.