Questioning the Benefits of Large-Scale Land Investments to Customary Land holders: A Case of ‘Quality’ Employment in Chiwala Chiefdom

Focusing on the quality of employment and adopting the case study design, the study undertook an in-depth investigation of the benefits and challenges of land investments to the natives of Chiwala chiefdom. It was purely qualitative study and was driven by both primary and secondary data to triangulate perspectives. Theoretically, the study is guided by the Social License to Operate (SLO). The four dimensions of quality employment by interrogating equality of opportunity, decency of work, fair wages and skills development from the sampled mines were adopted. In view of equality of opportunity, there was no connection between what was agreed in the Resettlement Agreement Plan (RAP) and the reality after grant of the Social License to Operate (SLO). The local people who had given up their land for the investment had not been priotised for the employment. Outsiders and those endorsed by the senior chief were given priority, Equality of opportunity was absent. Decency of work could not be ascertained as there were variances in the conditions of work as work hours extended beyond twenty hours. PPIs provided were mostly work suits without or worn out helmets, googles, gloves, safety shoes and breathers. Workers and communities alike were exposed to dust fumes, noise and excessive physical labour. In view of fair wages, there was no uniformity and positive compliance with the minimum statutory wages. From the local communities’ perspectives and evidence on the ground, there was no skills development. Observably, the locals could not have access to work that does not require skilled training such as office orderly or cleaners in the investor entity. Evidently, the SLO has expired and the investor operating in the chiefdom must revisit their welcome in the chiefdom. The regulatory frameworks must be strengthened to ensure compliance and curtail corruption.