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Socio-Economic Rights

Challenging large-scale agricultural and extractive land use that results in customary land dispossession without adequate consent, consultation and compensation, and increases poverty, environmental degradation and social inequality.

Ongoing Cases

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Socio-Economic Rights

Zambia: Corporate accountability for pollution of vital water resources and the environment

Peter Shula & 165 Others v Sino Metals Leach Zambia Limited & NFC Africa Mining Limited On 12 September 2025, 176 residents of Kalusale, Chambishi, Kalulushi District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia…
Botswana

Botswana: Indigenous San and Bayei communities fight to protect ancestral land and indigenous rights

Tawana Land Board v Botswana Khwedom Council & 10 Others The Southern Africa Litigation Centre is working with the Botswana Khwedom Council to support the San and Bayei communities in…
Kabwe mine
Socio-Economic Rights

South Africa / Zambia: Amicus in class action on lead poisoning

On 9 May 2022, Amnesty International and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) have applied to intervene in an unprecedented class action lawsuit. The case was brought by a group…
Socio-Economic Rights

Zambia: Illegal dam construction on Munte River: Chisenga Beriat & 8 Others v Serenje Properties Limited

The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) is supporting a community that relies on the Munte River in Serenje, Zambia, in challenging the violation of their rights arising from the construction…

Completed Cases

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Botswana: Chobe Land Board v Rebeccah Banika

| Botswana, Equality Rights, Equality Rights Completed Cases, Equality Rights Women Ongoing Cases, Socio-Economic Rights, Socio-economic Rights Climate Justice, Socio-economic Rights Climate Justice Completed Cases, Socio-economic Rights Completed Cases, Socio-economic Rights Extractives, Socio-economic Rights Land Rights, Socio-Economic Rights Land Rights Completed Cases | No Comments
The Southern Africa Litigation Centre is working with the Botswana Khwedom Council to support Kgosi Rebeccah Banika, a female Chief, who challenged the decision of the Chobe Land Board to…

Unconstitutional deprivation of land: Ba-Ga-Malete Tribe contest constitutionality of Section 7 of the Tribal Territories Amendment Act No. 3 of 1973

| Botswana, Equality Rights, Equality Rights Completed Cases, Equality Rights Women, Equality Rights Women Completed Cases, Socio-Economic Rights, Socio-economic Rights Completed Cases, Socio-economic Rights Land Rights, Socio-Economic Rights Land Rights Completed Cases | No Comments
SALC is assisting the Ba-Ga-Malete Tribe, represented by Kgosi Mosadi Seboko and the Gamalete Development Trust, against the Malete Land Board and the Attorney General to retain the land known…

Malawi: Challenging refusal of admission to school

| Equality Rights, Equality Rights Completed Cases, Malawi, Socio-economic Rights Completed Cases, Socio-economic Rights Education, Socio-Economic Rights Education Completed Cases | No Comments
Factual Background The applicant was refused enrolment at a school on the basis that he had dreadlocks. Over the years, there have been a number of reports of schools refusing…

Malawi: Detention of learners for pregnancy

| Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Completed Cases, Criminal Justice Criminal Law Reform, Equality Rights, Equality Rights Completed Cases, Equality Rights Health, Equality Rights Health Completed Cases, Malawi, Socio-Economic Rights, Socio-economic Rights Completed Cases, Socio-economic Rights Education, Socio-Economic Rights Education Completed Cases | No Comments
SALC is working with Youth Watch Society (YOWSO) in Malawi on a case seeking the review of a Magistrates Court decision to fine parents of students who were pregnant and…

Articles

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Articles

Mining requires accountability

The Nation 12 June 2026 As global demand for minerals used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean energy technologies continues to grow, Malawi is increasingly attracting attention from…
Zambia - flag
Socio-Economic Rights Articles

Mining company takes Zambia pollution case to Supreme Court in bid to avoid trial

MINING COMPANY TAKES ZAMBIA POLLUTION CASE TO SUPREME COURT IN BID TO AVOID TRIAL Sino Metals appeals High Court ruling that cleared the way for 176 community members to have…
Articles

Who benefits? Mining, climate justice, and the fight for community voice in Malawi

The Nation (3) May Chikondi Chijozi Jere Malawi is standing at the edge of a mining boom. From the rare earth deposits at Kangankunde to the globally significant rutile discovery…
Articles

Hate speech is an assault on democracy

Botswana Guardian (13 February 2026) *By Anna Mmolai-Chalmers  Botswana self-identifies as a democratic country, and, according to the Democracy Index, the indicators of democracy include, but are not limited to, political participation, civil liberties, good governance, and…

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Socio-Economic Rights Articles

Mining company takes Zambia pollution case to Supreme Court in bid to avoid trial

MINING COMPANY TAKES ZAMBIA POLLUTION CASE TO SUPREME COURT IN BID TO AVOID TRIAL Sino Metals appeals High Court ruling that cleared the way for 176 community members to have…
Articles

Jurisdiction, justice, and the journey home: The San and Bayei people’s struggle to reclaim Chief’s Island (Khuti ya ga Mathiba), their indigenous and ancestral land

Botswana Guardian Weekend Post Xtra TheMidweek Sun 30 July Madelyn Evans  To an outsider’s eye, the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana’s Northwest District appears as a lush reserve, teeming with…
Angola

Compêndio de jurisprudência sobre direitos humanos

Entre 2014 e 2024, os juízes e a comunidade jurídica que participaram no Fórum Regional Africano de Juízes (ARJF) discutiram vários casos que fizeram avançar os direitos humanos e a…
Civic Rights

Recueil de jurisprudence sur les droits de l’homme

Entre 2014 et 2024, les juges et la communauté juridique participant au Forum régional annuel des juges africains (FRAJ) ont discuté de diverses affaires qui ont fait progresser les droits…