The paper views Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) as any illegal and corrupt practice done to acquire money without due process that is in line with international financial and trade regulatory frameworks. Based on this working definition, the paper examines IFFs in the mining sectors in four countries (i.e. the Republics of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe) with a specific focus on socio-economic implications for communities in the mining or former mining areas. Measurement issues are also addressed. Indeed, IFFs have severe implications for the communities (as it is for countries). Although the results are mixed, regarding the quantification of IFFs in the mining sector, it is clear that IFFs have major negative effects on welfare and political stability. The paper engages with the political economy of development in Africa within the context of Illicit Financial Flows and it concludes or recommends that without effective partnerships across sectors and countries the problem of IFF will continue to constrain inclusive development in Africa.