For Immediate Release
22nd May 2019
Lusaka:
Managing Mining and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) For Sustainability
The Zambia Chamber of Mines has this year partnered with Oxfam in Zambia to host its annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) forum. The event will be held at the Garden Court Hotel in Kitwe from 22 -23 May 2019.
The forum which is in its fifth year is an interactive platform which brings together stakeholders in the mining sector to reflect on the mining companies’ social investments. The forum will also serve to dialogue on government policy and corporate policies and practices in terms of quality of CSR beyond the “give back” gesture, while addressing issues pertaining to transparency and accountability.
The Chamber of Mines is committed to ensuring key actors in the mining industry, Civil Society and communities are involved in the initiative hence the collaboration with Oxfam on the 2019 CSR Forum.
Chamber of Mines, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Talent Ng’andwe said, “the mining industry recognises the role that stakeholders play in creating a sustainable future for mining in Zambia. We believe social initiatives of Mining companies, and those of other non-governmental players can be complemented with the government’s own national and local development objectives and aspirations”.
Oxfam in Zambia through its Resource Governance and Accountability program works in Southern, North Western and the Copperbelt provinces to build citizens participation especially women in small and large scale mining to enable equitable resource benefit sharing.
Oxfam Country Director Ms Dailes Judge said, “Mining has taken place in Zambia for nearly a century and with over US$14.5 billon having been invested in the sector. The question is why are the host communities of some mining companies not benefiting? To contribute to this conversation and ensure people centered mining, Oxfam is proud to partner with the Zambia Chamber of Mines on this year’s CSR Forum”.
Ms Judge has also commended the Chamber of Mines for convening such a critical space for communities, the mining companies, government, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss the value of meaningful and sustainable social investment that empowers and lifts communities out of poverty.
For further details about the event, please contact Zambia Chamber of Mines Communicatrions Officer, Ms Chanda Simpindu on: +260973910330 and chandas@mines.org.zm OR Oxfam Media and Communications Coordinator Ms Misozi Tembo on: +260 977 338900 and mtembo@oxfam.org.uk
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