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Gabriel Sheanopa Manyangadze
African Response to Mining � The Africa Mining Vision’s action plan comprises nine program clusters of activities. These include prudent management of mineral rents, building human and institutional capacities, mining sector governance, promoting research and development, dealing with environmental and social issues as well as linkages and diversification
Mining Companies Opera4ng in Africa � Colonialism-‐to supply resources for home economies, this set the trend that continues today.
� BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining group, has canceled about USD40 billion projects in Australia mainly due to high costs, including labor-‐related expenses. Such costs have led to an increased presence of multinational mining companies in Africa. This includes the world’s biggest companies such as
� BHP Billiton, � Rio Tinto, � Anglo American � and Xtrata
Mining Companies Opera4ng in Africa � Nevsun-‐ Canada � Barrick Gold-‐Canada � Anglo American-‐ UK � Vale from Brazil � Anjin –China � Lonmin-‐UK
Minerals Mined
• Gold • Platinum
• Diamonds • vanadium
• chromium • manganese
• uranium • coal
• Iron ore • Copper
Impact on communi4es, � Displacement � Pollution of water sources that are sources of livelihood � Social impact from labour supplying communities and host communities-‐ diseases like HIV and AIDS that has killed ma
� Loss of land with little or no compensation e.g. in Zimbabwe the mining Law was enacted in 1961 at the height of the contestation of political power hence it took away all the rights from the indigenous communities
� It has promoted corruption
� leaders spoke of Barrick Gold's tactics in "suppressing dissident voices, dividing communities, and manipulating local and national politics". They also related stories about "lack of free, prior and informed consent for local people".
impact on the environment � Environmental degradation � Damaging the river ecosystem � “ After using excavators and heavy machinery to scoop sand from the river and dumping it on the river bank, Mecassi Engineering is using mercury, among other chemicals, to search for gold, before channelling the polluted water back into the river.” ZBC News
� Poisoning the rivers � Decimation of rare plants and small animals
� The companies defy local laws and pay a few corrupt top officials so that they are protected"We found them guilty but they have not paid the fine and two dockets have been opened with the police," EMA Education and Publicity Manager, Mr Steady Kangata said. ZBC News 12 July 2015
peoples’ resistance � In most of Africa the colonial laws are still operational and this makes it very difficult to resist. Howeverthe following have been done:
� Formation of community development trust that deal with issues surrounding diamond mining in Marange
� We now have provincial mining Indabas/ meetings that challenge the powers that be that include Traditional Chiefs and ministry of mines
� National Alternative Mining Indabas � Alternative Mining Indaba in Cape
Alterna4ve Mining Indaba-‐Hosted by Economic Jus4ce Network � It runs parallel to the Mining Indaba (Mining Companies, Financiers, insurers and suppliers)
� The Alternative Mining Indaba brings together host from Africa, Latin America, Canada and Mynmar communities, activists, faith based organisations who are concerned
� Marches against the Mining Indaba each year and sends communique
� Have started direct engagement with communities that started this year
Regional trends in the strategies of mining companies
� In dealing with government and people’s resistance to mining, and identifying which pose a threat to people’s communities and people’s movement
� Pushing for lower tax regimes and tax holidays e.g. BHP had a five year tax regime and it closed siting uneconomic ore production when it had shipped millions of tonnes of unprocessed ore
� Paying token royalties-‐Barrick’s threat to suspend operations once Zambian government trebled level of royalties to be paid
� Declaration of losses in host country through intricate accounting systems
� Corruption in dealing with government officials where ownership is not declared
Mining struggles in the region – which ones have been successful, and lessons in the struggle (strengths) � The highlighting of the archaic laws that have been used in the mining sector that has led to:
� Africa mining Vision � SADC Protocol on Mining � Revision of mining laws in various countries, there is a bill in the parliament of Zimbabwe
Iden4fy key issues/challenges to be resolved (weaknesses) � Laws have to be revised so that they are made in favour of the host communities
� Contracts have to be made public so that they are scrutinised by the public
� Informed of the host communities has to be sought before operations begin
� Communities need to be involved in deciding those that are given licences to mine
� Rehabilitation fund has to be paid during operations and has to be published and known by the communities
� Strict environmental monitoring and publishing of environmental status
Thank you Obrigado