ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the considerable work undertaken at national and regional levels. The wealth generated by the mining and minerals industry has not always been used to rehabilitate environmental degradation caused by mining nor to benefit the communities affected by the industry. Small-scale mining is an important source of income for many people in the region and is likely to grow in importance. The mining industry has shaped the lives of women in rural Southern Africa for many generations. Rural economies are impoverished by the loss of labour to the mines. The Southern African region is rich in natural resources, including minerals. Unemployment rates throughout the region are high and exacerbate poverty and its attendant ills. A lack of skills and capacity are prevalent in the Southern Africa region, presenting a challenge in the move towards sustainable development. Greater regional cooperation was stressed as an essential element of a successful transition to sustainable development.
