Mining is another important issue in Southern Africa that creates a need
for land use planning. The region has extensive mineral resources and a
large part of the region’s exports are in minerals. The economic importance
of mining makes it a priority land use. Other land uses are secondary.
This results in land use conflicts. Farmers have to be resettled, others
find their lands contaminated. In addition, mining requires huge infrastructure
such as roads and harbours which often effect major rural areas.
Land use planning could help to reduce land use conflicts through an increase
in transparency on (future) mining areas and contaminated zones
on the one hand and through the articulation of local peoples’ interest on
the other.