A Conceptual and Ethical Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility in Africa’s Development Crisis: The Marange Experience

InEthics, ethical developed economies, it is no longer much of a debate whether an organisation owes its host communityHost community social responsibilitySocial responsibility . Current discussion focuses on how to identify the specific and appropriate socialSocial engagements that are in line with the policiesPolicy, policies , goals and aspirations of a corporationCorporation , as it strives to impress its shareholdersShareholders, shareholder value , meet customersCustomers ’ needs, and remain afloat, in the face of stiff competition. Available evidence from literature shows that in the 19th century, and even from the earliest stirrings of the Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution , businessBusiness corporations readily appreciated the weight of their responsibilityResponsibility to societySociety and responded accordingly; they ensured that their activities did not constitute hazard to the environment, and ploughed part of their profitsProfit, profit motive into community development projects. Even in the 21st century, these corporate practices have not been the trend in Africa; yet the continent contributes about 25% of global natural resourcesNatural resources . Rather, these resources are dispersed and consumed in other parts of the world, while Africa remains trapped in underdevelopment. This paper focuses on the vulnerable community of MarangeMarange , which has been at the receiving end of the diamondDiamond mining activities in Eastern Zimbabwe. In spite of the abundance of alluvialAlluvial diamonds, which are considered as the most prized natural resource in the world, the MarangeMarange experience has been that of neglect of the environment, retrogression, servitude; bloodletting, abject povertyPoverty and permanent displacementDisplacement of indigenous communitiesCommunity, communities, local communities . The sources of data for this study were library and archival materials, as well as secondary (Internet) sources, which were subjected to critical analysis. Exploring the concept and nature of corporate social responsibility (CSR)Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) , the paper draws out the ethicalEthics, ethical implications of diamondDiamond mining activities of corporations for the socialSocial , economicEconomic and political development of MarangeMarange and its neighbouring communities.