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JCTR SAYS BENEFITS FROM MINING NEED TO BE SERIOUSLY LOOKED AT TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, FIGHT DISEASES March 2007 Government efforts to re-look at the Development Agreements relating to mines must be expeditious and seriously encouraged, observes the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR). The case for such action is well known and there has been general unanimity in the nation to move in that direction. That there is dire need to improve the nation’s resource base for investment in education, health, employment creation, diversification of the economy, etc., becomes critical that mining companies respond ethically to this need. . The ethical response to this issue of Development Agreements becomes imperative looking at the monthly interviews conducted by the JCTR with select households in high-density areas of Lusaka linking the Basic Needs Basket in quantitative figures and the actual qualitative living conditions of the people that continues to show various challenges facing households and the nation in general. For example, in the recent interviews of early March, it was found that a high number of people between the ages of 13 and 28 are seeking medical attention for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mainly gonorrhoea and syphilis. “In most cases, people with STIs seek medical attention after failing to treat their infections with drugs bought directly from drug stores,” explained one medical personnel from a health facility in one of the areas of the interview. Cases of diarrhoea continue being reported with half of the families being interviewed indicating at least one case of diarrhoea affecting both children and adults. The existence of HIV and AIDS in addition to the other diseases give rise to very difficult choices being made at the household level. For example, one girl during the interview revealed dropping out of school so that she could assist in looking after her sick mother by way of selling food items on the street. “Selling in the streets,” said the girl, “is very tough and I feel very vulnerable especially as I am always propositioned for sex.” At the centre of an effective strategy for fighting various diseases is affordability of basic needs. During the month of March the cost of food in Lusaka -- mealie meal, beans, dry fish, vegetables, eggs, cooking oil, etc. -- required to sustain a family of six amounted to K509,950 compared to K506,950 during February. But this is just the cost of food that does not include energy, water, transport, housing, etc., and it is estimated only for a family of six! When costs of these other non-food essentials are included, the total cost for basic needs amounted to K1,560,050 and could be higher when household size, usually of more than six, is taken into consideration. A significant contribution to the rise in cost of non-food essentials is from charcoal and housing. The former usually costs much higher during the rainy season because of production and transportation difficulties. The latter is the cost for a three bed-roomed house in a medium density area that provides adequate room for a family of six. “We spend a huge percentage of our income on food, health, energy and school related costs. And the need for transport, food, school supplies, etc., makes it all too difficult to keep children in school,” observed one of the people in the interview. Situations of disease, high cost of living, etc., need development efforts that are properly coordinated and integrated to bring about, among others, income earning opportunities, properly packaged and delivered treatment messages, including addressing underlying causes for particular health seeking behaviour. As one of the interviewed people put it, “there is need for more investment from government towards employment creation, provision of clean water and quality education“ Effective investments in these areas of health, education, employment creation, etc., obviously require more resources on the part of government which will significantly come from mines if the current Development Agreements are made just. “It is in that respect that the moral positions of the mining entities are being put to serious test requiring the invocation of principles far beyond considerations of narrow interpretations of legal provisions,” says Muweme Muweme of the JCTR. |
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