Environmental Governance and Compliance in Zambia's Mining Sector

The mining sector in Zambia is a significant contributor to economic growth but poses substantial environmental challenges. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative data from regulatory reports and qualitative interviews with stakeholders to assess environmental governance practices and their impact on compliance levels. Findings suggest that the proportion of mining companies achieving full compliance in environmental regulations varied significantly across different sites, ranging from 30% to 70%, with a notable trend towards increased compliance over time due to regulatory enforcement efforts and stakeholder engagement initiatives. The study highlights the importance of tailored governance strategies at local levels to enhance environmental compliance within the mining sector. Recommendations include strengthening stakeholder collaboration, enhancing monitoring mechanisms, and implementing targeted training programmes for industry personnel to improve environmental performance. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.