Mining is the activity of removing “extracting” minerals such as coal, metals from the ground by digging. In colonial Africa, mining was performed by the companies owned by white settlers. The mined and processed gold, copper, coal, zinc and other metals.
The following were among the famous colonial mining companies in Africa.
In central Africa: The union mine du to Hant Katanga and the Forminive, they dealt with gold and mining in Congo (Zaire).
The central mining company and the Robinson group extended the Mining activities up to Zambia and Zimbabwe looking for gold.
In South Africa: In central mining of Cecil Rhodes and the Robinson group dealt with gold and diamond at the starting point. Later on the mined copper nickel, could, zinc etc. in South Africa between 1590 and 1900 a lot of white settler’s flocked from South Africa to Zimbabwe. In 1810, Charles Rudd collaborated with Lobengula. In order to succeed, the mining companies of Cecil Rhodes and others were joined to form the De Beers Consolidated Company dealing with diamond and copper.
In East Africa: In Tanzania, the Boers from South Africa under the De Beers mining company started to mine gold in the early 20th Century in 1940, the Mwadui Diamond mines were formed by Dr. Williamson, gold was also mined in 1922 in Geita Mwanza, Musoma areas, present day Buhamba Kiabakara T.P.D.F., The South Africa (De Beers) also dealt with alluvial gold at Lupa and Chunya district. In Kenya and Uganda there was little mining (they had less minerals to be mined).
In West Africa: Gold was mostly in the gold coast (Ghana) example the Ashanti gold, Diamond was mainly mined in Sierra Leone. Coal was mined in Nigeria in Enugu area.
THE AIM OF COLONIAL MINING
The central purpose for colonial mining was to obtain various metals to be treated as the raw material coal was used as fuel in various activities etc. gold was used as a measure of value and the base of economy.
FEATURE OF COLONIAL MINING
Existence of the deep and surface mining. For the surface gold mining was.
The use of migrant labor: Most of the mining companies employed the migrant labor. For example, the mining companies of South Africa employed migrant laborers from Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi etc.
Mining camps: In the big mining camps, colonial mining companies established permanent camps (residences) for the migrant labors. They did so in order to ensure constant labor supply.
Land alienation: The discovery of new mining areas led to the evacuation of natives by the colonial government by force so as to allow settler investment in mining.
Low wages: The migrant laborers were paid wages by the white settlers. This led to poverty among the natives working in Mines in colonial time of Africa.
Existence of mining infrastructure: Such as transport facilities and communication facilities. They built railways and roads to connect the mines with the harbor to ease the transportation of minerals to Europe.
IMPACTS OF COLONIAL MINING TO BOTH MIGRANTS AND NATIVES
Exploitation: Mining activities made use of the African cheap labor in the mining industry. This facilitated the exploitation of the natives resources i.e. Minerals, human resources and so on.
Loss of land: The natives had to be removed from their land within land without compensation to allow the opening of new mines and plantations to supply food for mining centers.
Soil degradation: The surface mining was associated with destruction of the top soil to an extent of not being suitable for crop production in future.
Creation of labor reserves: The colonial government established labor reserve areas for future recruitment of migrant labors in labor reserve areas, the natives experienced a difficult life e.g. In South Africa, Bantustans such as SOWETO, Askei, Transkei etc.
Growth of towns such as Johannesburg, Pretoria etc. in South Africa, and many people working in the mines lived in towns.
Promoted agriculture near mining areas: Food became a valuable commodity in the mine. This was because mining laborers required a lot of food to perform their work.
Attracted the importation of producer goods such as machinery, spare parts and so on. The producer’s goods and other implements (inputs) facilitated the mining industry.
