Assessing the effects of mining activities on youth livelihoods in mining communities in Lesotho
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National University of Lesotho
Abstract
The extraction of natural resources by global mining, has significantly impacts on livelihoods
of people in the mining communities in Lesotho. Against the background, this study assesses
the impact of mining companies on the livelihoods of youths in mining communities, drawing
on experiences from Storm Mountain Diamond mine and the youth in the Kao community. The
study adopted mixed method where structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews
were used to collect data. A total of 58 participants were engaged in the study. The study
findings revealed that the youth around the Storm Mountain Diamond (SMD) mine engaged in
farming, animal rearing, illegal mining and housework, which helped to improve their
livelihoods before the establishment of the mine. The findings also revealed that after the
establishment of the SMD mine, it contributed to skill development for youth, created
employment opportunities for youth in the Kao community and promoted animal husbandry to
improve the livelihoods of youths in the mining communities. However, the study revealed that
the expansion of the SMD mine negatively affected youth farming and the operation of the SMD
mine had harmful effects on youth farmers who reared animals. Additionally, the large-scale
mining at SMD impacted previous illegal mining activities, which further harmed the livelihood
of local youth. This study concludes that the presence of the Storm Mountain Diamond mine in
the Kao community has had a positive impact on the livelihoods of youths, despite the
challenges they still face due to the mine’s presence. The study therefore recommends that the
comprehensive community development program be established to actively involve youth in
decision-making processes related to mining activities