Figure 1: Chinyongola community
In recent years, Chibombo District was the epicentre of yet another land dispute, this time affecting the members of Chinyongola community in Keembe Ward. Chinyongola is an agricultural and farming community located 60 km away from Chibombo. According to Community member Kennedy Chilala, before the arrival of investors and miners from outside the village, life in Chinyongola was tranquil; “we like our village, we do a lot of farming and the land gives us what we need”.
However, starting in 2019, a group of investors purchased the land under the pretence of legitimate development, but instead began an illegal mining operation that soon attracted large numbers of people from outside, leaving Chinyongola community to feel invaded and abused, and with no share in the new source of wealth.
“People in Chinyongola did not know what was sitting under their feet” said the District Commissioner (DC) for Chibombo, Lloyd Kayeka. “When the first developer came in, they said they were in aquaculture and would develop the land for fish farming. In reality they probably knew already then that there was a big mining opportunity”.
The first developer was a women’s multi-purpose group, which came in between 2019 and 2021 with the stated intention of developing fish farming and agricultural projects. The land sale, which had been conducted by the village headman without properly consulting with the community and without fully considering the impact on the 68 families residing there, soon took an ugly turn, as the transaction began to lead to an eviction crisis.
Figure 2: Community member Kennedy Chilala recalled Chinyongola’s recent issues concerning eviction and illegal mining
The situation took an alarming turn when community members observed that, instead of being developed for fish farming and agriculture, the land was being used for illegal gold mining. Excavators began digging for gold, raising serious concerns about unauthorized mining activities and the increasingly concrete threat of displacement for local families.
“People felt like they had been betrayed. The investor should have paid a lot more for their land. Land was given away without the community being able to benefit from the opportunity” (L. Kakeya).
The commencement of mining operations in Chinyongola soon led to a small ‘goldrush’, in the words of the Chibombo District Working Group (DWG). Large numbers of artisanal miners from outside the village swayed into Chinyongola and wanted to partake in the new opportunity offered by the gold mines. As the District Commissioner Kakeya recalls, “Chinyongola quickly became a security issue at the district level, we needed to raise the security measures and tackle the situation properly”.
Figure 3 and 4: Illegal mining activities that took place in Chinyongola community
In 2023, the Chibombo District Working Group stepped in to conduct sensitization work as part of the Land and Corruption in Africa II Project, focusing on land rights, the dangers of illegal mining and the reporting channels. “TI-Z explained to us the procedure to follow. It was very instrumental as it equipped us with a clear understanding on how to report issues and fight for justice” (Kennedy Chilala).
Through sensitization, the affected community members were empowered with knowledge which enabled them to report the land issue during mobile legal clinics. This resulted in the escalation of the issue to their local councilor, who in turn took the matter to the council and Chief Liteta.
“We worked together with the District Working Group team to resolve the issue. We did many trips to the community to gather data, assess the extent of the issue, and monitor progress” (L. Kakeya).
Figure 5: The Chibombo District Working Group played an instrumental role in sensitising the community on their rights to land
The intervention gained traction at higher levels, prompting the escalation of the issue further to the Ministry of Mines, which was previously unaware of the activities taking place.
The government’s response was transformative. Artisanal mining in the area was officially forbidden, and the illegal miners were sent away. As the community members confirmed to us, “nobody from outside came after that”.
The authorities went one step further and adopted a structured approach to regulate gold exploration and ensure that local community could benefit from the newly found wealth. According to DC Kakeya, “It’s a priority for us to engage the real owner of the land, the communities, and make sure that they benefit from the land. We helped them to form a cooperative so that they can access mining licenses and will be able to legally mine, and when they find partners and buyers for the mining produce, to sell what they mine. With the proper investment, they can even set up processing facilities nearby to further develop the community”.
“When the District Commissioner and everyone else came in, it felt good. We felt engaged and bound together as a community to defend our rights. We realized that we can benefit from our land as a community” (Maclean Hangoma).
Figure 6: Community member, Maclean Hangoma sharing her perspectives on what happened and on the positive resolution of the case
As a result of these interventions, 68 families who were about to be evicted retained their homes. The community and the government worked hand-in-hand to restore order and defend the community’s rights. Moreover, the community now has access to a new set of opportunities and a potential source of wealth offered by the mine. The government played a crucial role in ensuring this outcome, by regulating mining activities, preventing exploitative practices and ensuring that mining in the area adheres to legal and sustainable guidelines.
This was a very empowering moment for the community. According to the community members, sensitization played a crucial role in enabling this outcome. “We learned that with the good information; we can tackle any challenge”.
As the DC for Chibombo summed up, the Chinyongola case was an unfortunately common example of when traditional leaders commit the mistake of believing they have more power over land than the community members they are supposed to represent and defend.
“We need sensitization. People might feel scared of those in power, of the headman or of the companies, but if they know their rights can stand up for them. Chibombo is the fourth most populous district in Zambia according to the 2022 Census of Population and Housing Report. Land is becoming scarce and the demand for land increases. Information and knowledge are key. We need to sensitize communities on their rights to land to empower them when they face such challenges”.
