Abstract

NOYOO, Ndangwa. Mobilising Natural Resources for Sustainable Development: Copper mining and path dependence in Zambia. Cadernos de Estudos Africanos [online]. 2021, n.41, pp.119-144.  Epub Feb 15, 2022. ISSN 1645-3794.  https://doi.org/10.4000/cea.6393.

This paper analyses the role of copper mining in Zambia and examines the country’s over-reliance on this mineral, which is still its main export. Despite this industry being a colonial construct, it remains mostly unaltered in contemporary times, with foreign actors largely benefitting from it at the expense of Zambians, especially the working class and the vulnerable. Due to path dependence, Zambia’s development prospects continue to be locked into an ‘enclave economy’ type of development. The article argues for an alternative development pathway that breaks away from the one that was initially carved out by the colonialists and calls for pre-eminent roles to be played by local actors in the copper mining sector.

Keywords : agency; copper; minerals; mining; development; path dependence; Zambia.

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