Side Event: FIAN Zambia at the Alternative Mining Indaba 2025

On 4^th February 2025, FIAN Zambia participated in the Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI 2025) held in Cape Town, South Africa, contributing to a side event that explored transformative strategies for natural resource governance in Southern Africa. The discussions brought together diverse voices advocating for justice, ecological restoration, and inclusive development within the extractive sector.

The side event centered on the theme: “Afro-Ecofeminist Approaches to Mining and Natural Resource Governance,” underscoring the need for holistic frameworks that prioritize people and the planet over profit. Speakers emphasized that natural resource governance must be grounded in justice, care, and traditional knowledge systems, particularly those upheld by Indigenous and marginalized communities.

Four critical themes framed the discussion

1. Balance, Care and Humanity: participants explored strategies to integrate balance and healing into resource extraction. There was a collective call to embrace traditional ecological practices that honor respect, interconnectedness, and reparative justice, shifting away from exploitative approaches that harm communities

2. Justice and Equality: Advocacy for equitable access to natural resources and fair decision-making processes emerged as a core concern. The session challenged exploitative corporate practices and called for policies that confront environmental injustices, ensuring that sustainable development is rooted in justice and community well-being.

3. Afro-Ecofeminist Approaches: At the heart of the side event was a powerful call for Afro-ecofeminist governance models. These approaches recognize the interconnectedness of environmental degradation, gender inequality, and historical exploitation rooted in colonial systems. They advocate for centering community voices and promoting systems that restore dignity, cultural identity, and environmental balance.

4. Community Stewardship & Sustainability: The event reaffirmed the importance of local voices especially those of marginalized communities—in shaping policies and decisions around resource use. Emphasis was placed on integrating Indigenous knowledge, customary practices, and collective decision-making to achieve sustainability and ecological resilience.

FIAN Zambia continues to champion human rights-based approaches to natural resource governance. Events like AMI 2025 serve as vital platforms for collective reflection, movement building, and reinforcing the call for a just and sustainable future.