Mother Africa

The Government of Zambia: An Accessory to Lies by Investors?

2010-09-02T14:03:00.005+02:00

His Royal Highness Chief Sokoongo goes through the report shortly after it was presented to him at his Palace. PHOTO/ER

The Council of Churches in Zambia have embarked on a campaign which interrogates whether Zambia has reached the time to mine and Mill Uranium Ores which by and large has drawn much interest in the public domain. Since the launch of the report titled “Prosperity unto Death: Is Zambia ready for Uranium Mining?” the government of the republic of Zambia has taken sides with the investors who are in literal manner lying to the people on the dangers imposed and which the people of Zambia in the areas earmarked for and where such activities have begun will and are exposed to...

Accessory to Lies

The behaviour the Ministry of Mines seems to have turned out as the big PR wing of these mining companies. In the recent past, the Government of the Republic of Zambia the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Mines’ office have rained ‘hail-storm’ on the information dissemination on the findings of the report to the point of threatening officers at the Council of Churches in Zambia.

Yesterday, the Minister assured the Equinox group that their investment is safe in Zambia, but does not worry about the safety of his country men and women being exposed to the radiation that will result from these mining and processing activities.

Who tells a Lie?

Yesterday's Post Newspaper (one of the local Newspapers) entitled Equinox president notes misinformation on uranium mining attributed to Graig Williams, the president of Equinox Minerals Limited leaves a lot to be desired. Some of the issues attributed to Graig Williams include statements like... "Mining uranium was not dangerous to the country’s environment or people living near the mine."

This is the same statement that was made in their bulletin, which forms one appendix of the report.

If indeed this were the case, why would the country have bothered to try and go out of its way (which it did not successfully manage to) to try and abide by the rigorous International Atomic Energy Agency's stipulations?

Williams goes further and says, “We have recently heard in Zambia that mining uranium is dangerous… the fact is that the level of uranium we are mining is very low and so, environmental, health and safety risk is very low and we have very rigorous programme in place to ensure the safety of our people and the community. That is not an issue,” said Williams.

Reality and Lies

If you visit their web site on http://www.equinoxminerals.com/Development/Lumwana-Project, you'll see that they are talking of high-grade uranium at 1,000 ppm.

Now ask Williams or any staff from the Ministry of Mines what levels of uranium are referred to as low-grade(?). Some extracts from the site are pasted below: Lumwana Overview – Mining during 2009 totals mine material moved was 81.2 million dry metric tonnes.

The strip ratio averaged 5.2:1 and 13.1 million tonnes of ore were mined at an average head grade of 0.95% copper. Mining and stockpiling of uranium mineralization continued throughout the year.

At year end the uranium ore stockpile on the ROM pad was approximately 2.5 million tonnes of 1,000ppm uranium and 0.8% copper.

Equinox & Zambian Uranium Mining Venture

In 2008, Equinox completed a uranium feasibility study (UFS) investigating the onsite treatment of discrete, high grade uranium mineralization contained within the Lumwana mine copper pitshells.

The UFS confirmed the potential viability of onsite uranium treatment, producing about 2 million pounds of uranium per year over a six to seven year period (End of Extract).

Williams further alleges “I think there has been a campaign of disinformation on uranium that is not based on fact. The fact is that we have gone through a vigorous environmental approval by Environmental Council of Zambia and we have applied international standards and our project has got all that.”

Insulting Zambians

Such statements are insulting to the Zambian people. The government of the day is playing along as oblivious as can be which raises a number of concerns. The most interesting thing is that the same company, Equinox Mines started stockpiling of Uranium Ore two years even before the legal instrument [which does not ensure protection of persons] was in place.

What criteria was used to allow them continue with this activity when there were no policies in place to ensure the safety of workers, leave alone the safety of the community members? The story have been told for a long time that transportation of Uranium has to be done under strict oversight, if Copper transported down-south is mixed with radioactive minerals yet transported unsealed – what untold dangers are we supposed to speculate people are exposed to?

Even the Environmental Council of Zambia - ECZ, to who reference has been made; do not have such information of very high grade uranium (of 1,000 ppm). But if they do then to stand the test of time; they must show it to the public, particularly to the persons who are interested in the truth to see that ECZ is well equipped to handle this kind of mining and the eventualities.

This grade is TOO HIGH to treat the issue of stock-piled uranium so casually..!

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Canadian Envoys to Kenya & Tanzania: Uninformed or Arrogant?

2010-04-07T14:11:00.000+02:00

WE HEAR YOU: Mines Ministers, representatives from mineral ministries, chamber of minerals and civil society organisations listening to the speakers at the African Mining Partnership in Cape Town - February 2010. PHOTO/ER

BADLY-INFORMED Diplomats! This is the only word – compound word I could find to describe ho w I felt when I read the press statement issued by the two Canadian High Commissioners in Kenya and Tanzania respectively.

The press release was issued to counter the article that appeared on the East African, 1^st to 7^th March 2010 issue. The article in question addressed a number of issues that have been reported in the past with relations to Canadian extractive industry operating abroad.

Diplomatic ignorance on issues

Titled, “Canadian firms dominate mining activities in Africa – and have a bad human rights record” and quoting issues on the ground in British Columbia, Zambia, DRC, Kenya and Tanzania highlighting the escalating levels of gross human rights violations.

The critics of this excellent article said, "We feel that the article drew some erroneous conclusions based on false or partial information. We would like to make it clear that Canada’s commercial priority is to attract investors into the country through a number of fiscal measures.

There is, however, no specific policy that encourages Canadian mining companies to invest abroad as the article insinuated. Further, the Canadian government supports transparency and welcomes independent investigations of mining companies’ activities.”

Focusing on the highlights of some of the atrocities that have been named after the Canadian Extractive Industry abroad particularly in East and Central Africa; I would add my voice on the same on even more serious cases in Papua New Guinea, Honduras, Guatemala and other countries which I will not mention to save the space!

Canada have for decades now been spitting right on the face of local communities under the same old facade of “Canadian mining activities in Africa (are) a force for good.”

This statement in itself shows how misinformed the two diplomats sent to the East African countries are to the specific social, economic and environmental needs of community members where multinational investments in the mining sector from Canada are hosted in African countries.

Diplomatic arrogance

The ‘force for good’ being talked about here does not take into consideration the containers belonging to Barrick Gold Corporation that were held for days at the Mwanza Airport – Tanzania after being found to carry illegal weapons being transported to the embattled North Mara Mines. This dies a forced death as usual and I do not fear speculating that the same tactics that have stalled the discussions on the new mining legislation in the parliament were used.

In their statement they stated in ‘crystal’ letters that, “As a country founded on the strength of its natural resources, we are proud to see Canadian expertise, technology and investment dollars at work in communities around the world.

Should Canadian companies decide to invest abroad, the government encourages them to work in a positive manner that will help all stakeholders prosper from the projects.

In Africa, you can find many examples of Canada’s extractive sector playing a positive role: They are creating employment for local people, sharing and transferring Canadian expertise, respecting local law and regulations and helping communities develop natural resources in their own backyards.”

This leaves a lot of communication and understanding gap as to whether the blood of the innocent in rural communities in Tanzania (where Canadian Barrick Gold) has five mining sites with a trail of gross human rights violations, economic and environmental injustices, DRC, Kenya, Zambia, Papua New Guinea, Honduras and Guatemala is anything to stand tall on and declare pride?

This is a sorry state in the standings of two diplomats and evidences how arrogant and insensitive Canadian envoys to Kenya and Tanzania are.

Canadian Government & Transparency

It is an irony for the two diplomats to concur and put in black and white that, “The Canadian government also strongly supports the International Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

Our government will continue to support efforts of Canadian companies to make a positive difference in the communities in which they operate and encourage all governments to be transparent in their management of the extractive sector.”

A community in Bulyanhulu where a ‘planned’ massacre was reported in 1996 where 72 souls were reported lost. To me this was going to be a landmark to the Canadian facelift on how transparent they are. The relatives of the ‘alleged’ deaths are still haggling to get justice. The calls for an independent inquiry into the matter has fell on the deaf ears and I believe that the diplomats went through a series of trainings on how to give a totally deaf ears to these pending issues that are deemed as ‘tarnishing the reputation of Canada.’

Manipulations from Canada

Early February the world’s top personalities gathered in Cape Town in South Africa for the African Mining Indaba which was followed by the high profile gathering at the Southern Cape Hotel for the ministers of Mines, Chamber of mines from different African countries and of course a few representatives from the civil society camp.

One of the most interesting this is the fact that a number of representatives from the Mines ministries in over 35 African states unanimously state that, “human rights abuses reported in the extractive industry have not received a good handling while the participation of communities around the mines and equity in general were in books only.”

The African Mining Partnership (AMP) meeting was seasoned with a mixture of people, some who were pro-mining while the majority were cautiously tackling the issues that has taken the economies of their countries in the ‘drains’ with respect to the mining sectors in their respective countries. It also came out clearly that “Canada dominates extractive activities in Africa with a reputation which does not befits a country that boasts of constructive engagement in transparency and accountability.”

When all these criticism was on the floor, a senior international Policy advisor, at Natural Resources Canada, Andre Bourassa ‘forced’ his way to address the gathering and complained bitterly of the “bad reports that has been posted on one of UN’s webpage concerning the trend of the mining/Extractive Industry.

“All reports that I have read on the UN’s webpage about mining in Africa is all negative. Mining in Africa is not all bad and these kinds of reports only make the UN to see a state of emergency and may stop its engagement in the mining sector even though in the recent past they have been gradually getting some interest.”

Bourassa went ahead to put forward a solemn plea to the minister to “produce positive reports on the progress made in the mining industry in Africa!”

This is something that threw a number of stakeholders off board and many asked, “if there is no good coming from the mining industry in Africa where are we going to get the good to write?”

This is the overbearing attitude which must stop. There has been far too much interference with all the interventions that African governments have introduced to make the most out of the natural wealth within individual countries’ borders.

New strategies announced

Messrs Ross Hynes and Roert Orr state in their statement that, “ Earlier this year, we (Canada) announced a new strategy that will help Canadian companies abroad go even further to meet and exceed their corporate social responsibility goals.”

If I am not mistaken this refers to the recent establishment of the office of the corporate social responsibility counsellor. This is being headed by the former Munk Centre’s Director, Dr. Marketa Evans who is the new counsellor of the extractive sector’s CSR.

Canada has over the years realised a backlog of unresolved disputes from the host countries where foreign direct investment in the mining sector/extractive industry from Canada has had adverse effects in the social, economic and environmental areas.

“The mandate of the Counsellor will relate exclusively to the activities of Canadian extractive sector companies operating abroad. The Counsellor will:

Review the corporate social responsibility practices of Canadian extractive sector companies operating outside Canada; and
Advice stakeholders on the implementation of endorsed CSR performance guidelines.

The Counsellor will only undertake reviews with the consent of the involved parties. The five stages of the review process are: initial assessment; informal mediation; fact-finding; access to formal mediation; and, reporting.

Requests for review may originate from an individual, group or community that reasonably believes that it is being or may be adversely affected by the activities of a Canadian extractive sector company in its operations outside Canada. A request could also originate from a Canadian extractive sector company that believes it is the subject of unfounded allegations concerning its corporate conduct outside Canada in relation to the endorsed CSR performance guidelines.”

But with all that said on foreign affairs and international trade Canada website; a number of questions still linger in the minds of key players and those who follow closely on how far reaching and effective the office of the CSR counsellor will be? Does this office have the teeth to bite the Peter Munk’s of the Canadian Mining Empire? ...and how is this office prepared to deal with the unresolved disputes in Tanzania, Zambia, DRC, PNG, Guatemala, Honduras and other parts of the world where Canadian Extractive industry operates abroad?

Further readings

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND: What does the law of Retribution say?

2010-02-17T09:21:00.003+02:00

NCHANGA OPEN PIT - KONKOLA: This is the world's second largest open pit mine in the World after Chile. Zambia and Zambians have nothing more to brag off on as far as the extraction of Copper is concerned. Churches have taken part in plunder of other countries' resources. What are they to give back? PHOTO/ER

In the real world of business, Churches are not left behind in the pursuit for more income. A number of Churches in the West have a lot of investments within the corporate world. This by and large is a good but the surprising factor is that the decisions to divest from investments that go against ethics take so long to be made. As we follow with Martin Chitengi, the biggest question is; how much is the church willing to return - according to the law of retribution to the communities who have long been plundered and abused?

The decision

THE Church of England has divested from mining company, Vedanta Resources, the majority shareholder of Konkola Copper Mines, after sustained pressure from campaigners, including many Christian groups.

The Church Commissioners and the Church of England Pensions Board announced that they sold their shares in the company on the advice of the Church’s Ethical Investment Advisory Group (EIAG).

Consequently, none of the three national investing bodies of the Church of England hold shares in Vedanta.

United Kingdom-based thinktank, Ekklesia, on its website, said it had highlighted, over three years, how Vedanta has been involved in some alleged unethical activities.

This included Vedanta’s bid for mining rights in the Indian state of Orissa in 2007 which faced mounting opposition from thousands of Dongaria Kandha tribal people.

The tribal people feared the plans would damage the fragile ecosystem of the Niyamgiri mountain forest, on which they depend for their livelihoods.

Manipulation on Policymaking processes

Ekklesia also alleges that Vedanta was involved in ‘short changing’ Zambia with royalty fees of just 0.6 per cent instead of the 5 to 10 per cent industry average in developing countries before the development agreements were abolished.

When contacted for comment KCM spokesperson Rahul Kharkar, who was sent the Ekklesia statement on Tuesday said he needed time to consult the chief executive and promised to call later.

Meanwhile Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal denied allegations of maltreatment of locals according to online Economic Times of India.

Mr Agarwal in a detailed e-mail response said that the mining project at Niyamgiri has been formally authorised by the Supreme Court, following a lengthy and extensively documented approval and procedure.

And Survival International pointed out that the Church is not the first to disinvest from Vedanta on ethical grounds.

In 2007, Norway sold its US$13m stake, alleging ‘there is little reason to believe the company’s unacceptable practice will change in the future."

Martin Currie Investments sold its its £2.3 million stake last year, and BP’s pension fund reduced its holdings in Vedanta due to alleged ‘concerns about the way the company operates.’

Investor values Versus Ethics

The EIAG advised divestment saying its engagement with Vedanta produced no substantive results and EIAG believed it would be inconsistent with the Church ethical investment policy to remain invested given the EIAG’s concerns about the firm’s approach to relations with the communities where it operates.

The EIAG chairman, John Reynolds says, “I am a passionate advocate for engagement with companies when we have ethical concerns. We have an excellent track record of getting our concerns heard and acted upon by firms in which the Church investing bodies hold shares.

“We are grateful to Vedanta’s senior management for making themselves available to meet us on a number of occasions. However, after six months of engagement, we are not satisfied that Vedanta has shown, or is likely in future to show, the level of respect for human rights and local communities.”

The EIAG understands that the Indian government is still considering whether to give final approval for the mine project.

Mr Reynolds stressed that: “We respect the Indian democratic system. Our concern is that a company registered and listed in the UK should conform to the established environmental, social and governance norms expected in the London market – or at least reassure its shareholders that it is committed to the journey.”

The EIAG said it will maintain contact with Vedanta. John Reynolds said: “We will be pleased to review our recommendation to the Church investing bodies if the company addresses the concerns we have raised.”

A Welcome Decision

The director of Survival International, Stephen Corry said: "The Church’s unprecedented and very welcome decision sends a strong signal to companies that trample on tribal peoples’ rights:

Vedanta was just one of a number of investments in mining companies which the Church of England still holds.

Campaigners point out that mining is one of the most polluting industries in the world. It has a disproportionately negative impact on marine-dependent and land-based communities, especially indigenous peoples

The Church of England and the Methodist Church hold shares in Anglo American, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, despite Catholic aid agency CAFOD, War on Want, Anglican bishops and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, previously condemning the companies for their actions.

The combined Church of England shareholding in these three companies was valued at £62 million in the last annual report of the Church Commissioners.

BHP Billiton in particular has faced allegations of human rights abuses and widespread environmental destruction.

Campaigners, The London Mining Network recently published an ‘alternative report’ into its activities outlining negative impact of many of the company’s operations – in Australia, West Papua, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Africa, Canada, Colombia and Chile.

Jonathan Bartley co-director of Ekklesia which last year produced a report examining the ethics of the Church's investments said: "questions must now be asked about the other mining companies in which the Church also has substantial shareholdings.

URANIUM MINING IN ZAMBIA: Signing the Contract of Death

2010-01-27T13:46:00.000+02:00

STOCKPILES: Uranium Ores stockpiled in one of the sites belonging to one of the investors in Uranium Mining in Zambia

Bold statements are not rare among us when it comes to issues that relate to foreign direct investments in our countries in Africa. Our African Leaders seem to care less of what would become of their people in the aftermath of making rush decisions. It is a sheer selfishness when our people are subjected to deplorable living conditions when it comes to Extraction of Natural Resources in our midst. Zambia is yet to make another big mistake of not taking the concerns of the people at heart when striking deals on Uranium Mining. Dennison Mines is Canadian and African Energy Resources is Australian, are there not Uranium Fields in these countries? Has anyone in the government tried to follow up what happens in these countries with regards to Uranium countries so that informed decisions are made? Copper mining has evidenced big failure since privatisation era and we are watching now...

Rushing to Destruction

LATE last week the Zambian Minister for Mines, Maxwel Mwale was assertive of the imminent opening of the operations of the African Energy Resources, a company which ‘intends’ to carry out Uranium mining in the Southern province – Siavonga.

It is a good thing that the Zambian government through the Ministry of Mines is focused on seeing that Uranium mining activities takes off as soon as possible. But in the face of this readiness on the part of the government; a moment of reflection need to be taken lest the government and the Ministry overseeing mining activities rush into destruction.

The government needs to take a moment to reflect on how ready the local communities are to have Uranium mining among them; tight in the midst of the communities. ‘In March the people who are supposed to be relocated will be relocated and the mining activities will take off-ground!’ so the minister was quoted on the media.

Historical Narratives

Uranium exploration activities is said to have “begun in 1980s.” “We have had a number of companies from Italy, America and other countries in the west since 1980s coming here with claims that they are carrying out exploration activities,” said a senior member of community.

In the foregoing, it was evident from the local community members that these ‘explorers’ “carried out their drilling activities, packed the product in boxes tightly packaged and were shipped out of the country. We know that you do not need a huge amount of Uranium to make final products from it and these people have been coming here and carrying out Uranium out of the country to meet their desired end. How long should exploration take to ensure that there is enough deposits of Uranium?”

Are Local Communities Ready?

I do not know whether it was a matter of coincidence or just a mere fact that the Minister was in the region and our team was also in the same area where he made his bold statement!

Talking to the traditional leaders in the three Chiefdoms, it was evident that the government of the day; even though in “a hurry to see these investors go ahead with uranium mining activities, we are still in the dark with what mining of this kind is all about. We have not been told the benefits, advantages and disadvantages of Uranium mining,” the chiefs and the headmen unanimously said at different times.

Speaking to the leadership in Sikoongo Chiefdom, it emerged that the investor in their midst – the African Energy Resources have given the community members conflicting information.

“We have been confused with the turn of issues because the company that came to us first is not the company which is now here. At first it was Albidon which came to us and now it is African Energy Resources. But even in their coming – African Energy Resources, we are not sure what exactly is being done. All we know is that they have prospecting licence but now they are talking about mining. Is it not the case that they should change their licence first?” queried one of the concerned community members.

Another concern which was raised by the local community members in Sikoongo Chiefdom was that of information that was passed to them by a lady they called Pamela and her team from African Energy Resource.

“At first, when Pamela and the team from African Resource Energy came here; they told us a little about Uranium and the dangers that come with it but later on when we started asking more questions about the impacts the story was changed and we were told that it is not all that dangerous and the company will be monitoring all activities closely,” said a retired teacher.

Lack of Awareness on Uranium Mining

The community members in Sikoongo, Simamba and Sinadambwe Chiefdoms raised their concerns on lack of awareness creation on what impacts come with Uranium mining in their communities. “We are completely in the dark and the government does not seem to care much about educating our people. We have heard of what this kind of mining can do to a community and we have also been told of Heroshima and all the effects that came with the bombing. Even though this is not a bombing but it is the same mineral we hear was used to make that dangerous bomb.”

At this juncture it should be remembered that the Simamba Chiefdome will not be directly face the impacts of the Uranium mining but certainly people from this chiefdom will go to the Sikoongo and Sinadambwe’s chiefdoms where the mining activities for Uranium will take place, hence they also need to have sensitisation programmes conducted.

The Namibian Experience

Two Chiefs from the Sinadambwe and Simamba Chiefdoms were accorded a trip to Namibia to see how Uranium is mined and processed but also to have round table discussions with the top management team at Dennison Mines offices in Namibia.

From their experiences their Royal Highnesses, Sinadambwe and Simamba said that, “The mining activities are literally in the desert and not close to the people.” This is a sharp contrast with what is happening among the Southerners in Zambia’s second tourist destination.

On our talks with the local leaders at the Chiefdom levels, we were informed that the relocation plans which are being discussed “...only talks about people from 6 villages in the Sinadambwe Chiefdom being relocated only 5 kilometres away from the central Uranium mining activity area.”

Concerns on the Zambezi Water Basin

While the government of Zambia and the ministry given the responsibility to oversee the mining sector are in a hurry to see production of Uranium taking place – are there any measures taken to mitigate the impacts that would visit the local communities and the regional impacts if one mistake occurs?

We know of the cutting cost mechanism which mining companies have used all over the world with regards to disposal of over-burden materials; otherwise known as wastes. The areas where Uranium mining activities implementation is proposed to take place in Zambia are mainly in the valleys and or in the water steams. The main concern in this line is to do with the allegations that Dennison Mines at one point wanted “to push overburden materials from one of their operational sites which is on a hill to a valley under them. This valley carries water from upstream to the Kariba Lake. Siavonga is supposedly the second tourist destination in Zambia; now, my only question is will this fact be the same once contamination cases starts to shoot up? Which Tourist will come here? How about the trans-boundary impacts which will be faced by neighbouring countries who share the Zambezi water basin when such impunity has started even before the full operation starts?”

Claims of Low Quality Products

The statement by the Minister of Mines on Friday the 22, January 2010 was preceded by reports from the company that the Uranium which is going to be mined in the Southern part of Zambia is of low quality, "Not strong enough!" But the most surprising thing is that they ( the investors are still pushing on to open the mine in March and or shortly after the reallocation of the villagers.

This is another story that has been echoed for ages by the investors in mining Industry to make decision makers think that it is worth disposing of the mineral at a throw away price and disregard all the impacts in order not to lose the investor who is readily at hand.This is technically called 'brainwashing.' if it is true that the Uranium in Siavonga is "weak" then the best thing to do on the part of the investor is to let it lay in the ground without starting a process which will eventually end up leaving the communities in ill health for generations to come.

Fresh Look into Uranium Mining in Zambia

With the emergence of such statements the government of Zambia should be advised to look into this matter afresh. The investor in this case wants the government to be on the beggar's footing and beg them to stay and give them whatever little they can offer.

Unless the government officials want to enrich themselves, they will not go back to the drawing board but t if they (the government) has the interest of her people at heart, they certainly will take this simple advise and call all the parties to the drawing board and make decisions where no one will be blamed to be a killer of the people.

Zambia should not be on the begging side of the table but an equal who should walk tall and proud of having the mineral which is needed by the investor.

Hear it in Our Voices: Zambians speak out the Extractive Industry...

2010-01-26T16:51:00.003+02:00

THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE: This is one of the sad and sore sights in Mufulira. People live not more than 10 metres from the wastes from the mining activities by Mopani Copper Mining.

When stakeholders in development speak on matters that the government considers to be a-no-go-zone for any other person; they are branded as those in opposition to the ruling government and party. Partisan and selfish ambitions of our African Leaders is heading to something destructive if NOT kept in check. The Council of Churches in Zambia late last year (2009) conducted a special live panel discussion on Muvi TV and it is NOT my intention to water what was said. Hear it in the voices of the poor and marginalised persons in the Country... Verbatim!

What is CCZ doing to help the government reduce or close the gap between the rich & the poor? CHIONI SAKALA, KITWE
No Proper Labour Laws to guide resources.
Leaders in Zambia especially presidents are all selfish and do not have the interest of people at heart they behave like foreigners. CHISANGA FRM KASAMA
It’s good that you, the panel is talking on behalf of the people who can’t express themselves well. Let us work hard to protect the vulnerable in society. CHE OF LY
The ngombe displaced people are suffering from 2002 up to today we are crying for our land please help us we are 281 number
We want human life as Zambians to be respected. Our Copper is taken every day hence our people do not benefit from it. Fr Ponda frm Mufulira
Politicians have disappointed us. They should be ashamed to be rich representatives of the poor. The gap is becoming too wide. SHAME! MASEKA JMM ZAMBEZI.
Rupiah and the MMD, should change the attitude and do things for Zambians and NOT for investors. AH KF
The government is only interested in fattening their pockets. We do not have investors instead we have infesters. MA KABWE
For as long as Smelting/Leaching continues by-products harmful to people will be. Investor needs to 'pay' for activities. MM lsk
Privatisation has grown our economy but has underdeveloped Zambia. it’s the weapon now employed by the northern countries thru IMF and World Bank. Our ministers lack the capacity to develop suitable policy frameworks. M of Kabwata.
Can the panel comment on Zambian investors who beat workers for failure to meet cashing & paying the minimum wage like foreign investors, Costa good topic but do research, Zambian managers in mining companies are a let down
Government has give investors more power than the local employ which is very bad.
In this country the labour law z so weak that’s why investors take advantage. MK – Lilayi
That is the best observation. Government has no direction. Investor is their hero a Zambian is rubbish because they gain from investors. Mussa Lsk
Though the topic is good, may I find out whether the men of God engaged are specialised in related expertise to do the study on Ecology? This is a specialised subject that should have been done by specialised people. E.g when you want to do an audit, you go to specialised people in accounts. Your definition of ecology was weak. Have you read the environment protection and pollution control act? What is the problem is that Zambia has never taken an inventory of her ecological resources has never been studied, quantified. VICTOR KAZEMBE KAWANGA
Africans we are very dull people, if disputed prove otherwise, education has failed us, I'm sorry, we are vulnerable. Leave investors alone we are just fools no eyes of foreigners. Shame.
It is sad to see the country endowed with a lot of natural resources walloping in poverty. Zambians should stand up and demands for what belong to them. Fr Kapungwe Mufulira
The interest of the people running the country’s economy is the monetary benefits they get from the investors and not the citizens.- DLM Samfya.
The panel seem to have made a good analysis, that the involvement of local people is sidelined and the law protect the investors, what can u propose to the government policy to arrest the situation? REV GABRIEL, CHOMA.
It is really sad to talk about poverty in Zambia after 45 yrs of independence. We have bin colonised again by the so called investors. Are we really free? Only god knows
Our country is a big disgrace, surely how on earth do u expect investors to respect our laws when de legislatures protect them example chimumbwa and KCM water pollution saga in Chingola what has happened? Rev. Siame UCZ Mpika
Yes, we are poor because when Chiluba said African is no longer sleeping, later he was called a thief. SHAME! MICKY NDOLA.
Government is not concerned with this problem because some top government leaders are benefitting directly from the foreign mine owners. Jimmy - Kabwe
I concur with my reverend Andrew Chulu. As a govt, it needs to set standards to let investors develop the areas they come in and not only to let them make money and leave us suffering. It's high time we stood up and speak to air our views. Silence means acceptance. CM of Ly
Rupiah should be brought here on da c/belt and at least taken to underground so he sees what miner go thru. Mike. Cn
Zambia’s problem is not da investor, but its relationship with the living God. Proverbs 29:2. We seem not to a government, these investors can only sponsor by elections and not infrastructure, that’s our leaders have no say, Chingola town today is dirty. Evangelist Bwalya Ellison. Chingola
You should have checked than just sound nice blaming efforts of Environmental Council of Zambia. Don’t you see how they prosecuted ZESCO, CHILANGA CEMENT, National Milling
Why don’t people in power listen? Do they care about us?
On all what you have elaborated especially on Environmental pollution and pulsing danger to people ,what will be the solution to safeguard human being & Environment. PANDWE JOSEPH - NCHELENGE
Kafue is such example with the coming of universal mining
The question which l ask myself is; Do we have leaders who are patriotic and with the vision of Zambia other than their visions. Imagine even maize which we grow Mealie Meal is beyond many Zambian. Food is a problem in this country. Go beyond Copperbelt you will cry, this country is slowly sinking badly, besides being beautiful and rich, sad! S Fungaloko. Estates – Kafue.
We seem not to a government, these investors can only sponsor by elections and not infrastructure, that’s our leaders have no say, Chingola town today is dirty.
You should have checked than just sound nice blaming efforts of Environmental Council of Zambia. Don’t you see how they prosecuted ZESCO, Chilanga Cement, National Milling
Why don’t the people in power listen? Do they care about us?
On all what you have elaborated especially on Environmental pollution and pulsing danger to people, what will be the solution to safeguard human being & Environment. PANDWE JOSEPH - NCHELENGE
Fr Emmanuel & yr group do u think MMD is doing anything to develop the country & mitigate the problems the poor people are facing? Mwamba James
Kafue is such example with the coming of universal mining
The question which l ask myself is, Do we have leaders who are patriotic and with the vision of Zambia other than their visions. Imagine even maize which we grow Millie Meal is beyond many Zambian. Food is a problem in this country. Go beyond Copperbelt you will cry, this country is slowly sinking badly, besides being beautiful and rich, sad! S Fungaloko – estates Kafue.
I thank you for this program & support you we the people of KANKOYO are being mistreated by our leaders by allowing the mines to continue polluting the all town ship without being compensated. D.A.M OF MUFULIRA
You people we a behind u go on it is true Mufulira residents are ignorant kindly pres de government. We a with you talk please
Since you are aware of these negative experiences what steps do you taker as CCZ in order to help do away with it, mainly economically? MFUNE JEFF. L.STONE.
That panel is powerful and I like that they are raising those important issues Zambia need to wake up and protect its people!
Zambian leaders are too dependence on external government. They have no trust that GOD can see them through.
Honourable gentlemen why are things that way and who is to blame for all the state of affairs, RAS BOYD LSK
Can the police arrest the leaders from basic education teachers union of Zambia for stealing 500,000 Kwacha from poor teachers? Kangwa.
Good discussion but let me remind de panel that our leaders know that very well. But their priority is enriching their pockets. That’s the problem.
Why are our leaders so proud of investors giving Zambians jobs when the employees are said slave wages? When will Zambians see real empowerment?
Africa should not allow itself to be used like a pot
I believe MPs, all civic leaders & government leaders in Mufulira when getting out of Mufulira they use planes not vehicles because they would have spoken out. Fr. J
Mr RUBARA you are a library of wisdom. Get a column with the POST News paper & share that wisdom. May be, just maybe we can have a new evolution. MUDENDA HAMANJANJI
It’s plain & simple, office holders in ECZ, ERB, ZBS are a disgrace, let them resign. ECZ has rules that can protect our citizens but are not used. ERB gave ZESCO benchmarks to achieve before tariff increment, has ZESCO met them? NO. Standards of goods on the market are low where is ZBS?
It’s a good program. I wish you brought in govt official in who are policy makers. Now what next? Pastor Kafwimbi, Solwezi
Zambia has no vision for its Copper. Shame on us - Sam
The cause is the second president, Chiluba.
Costa respect to you and Muvi Television for coming up with a great panel. They are a blessing and well informed. The problem we have is that our leaders do not get the advice. In everything they see opposition parties even this panel tomorrow it will be they are PF-UPND affiliates. God bless this panel
It’s a pity we have toothless and blind leaders. Government does not protect its people and so thugs or investors come, make money and leave our nation poor and polluted. D. Siafwa - Lya
The government is protecting the investors. I am happy with those observation gentlemen. BANDA KEPHAS MUFULIRA
It’s true our government is weak and that’s why investors are rude. Let’s protect out people like the Botswana is. KASEBA LUSAKA
I don't know if Zambians will ever think upright. DC are developing at our expense. Please graduates of DS what are you doing out there. Come together and save this rich country.
What are our leaders’ long term goals, or even just the short term goals? All they want is to win elections. Wytson.
Environmental council of Zambia is literary doing nothing on land degradation on de Copperbelt. Zuze Mpulungu
The government is protecting the investors. I am happy with that observation gentlemen. BANDA KEPHAS MUFULIRA.
Why do mining activities done in Zambia without any tax and o the funds are banked out? Don’t we have banks in Zambia?
No it is poor leader in a rich country. Pastor remove poor mind in leader. How can a blind man led.
Our colonialists at least left us with something to build on, but because we are thieves, greedy and selfish, we've squandered everything, e.g. at time of independence Zambian Kwacha was at par with Pound, let’s not blame them!
Why can’t de policy makers let de mine owners pay a certain % to the community where they mine, for maintenance and..! Ya twacula..! Jengela - Chililabombwe.
thanks to CCZ God help us least we progress at a diminishing rate mining policy need revising
We will only b economically independent when our leaders decide to serve the people of Zambia & not favourde so cod investors – PM
The problem of country our imports are higher than the exports. We should come with other method of living depending on non-remunerable resources. Opening companies to help maintaining our economy.
Please tell these leaders to stop being spectators and start formulating policies that protect Zambia and its people. Let them start being professional!
What benefit will this discussion bring for us Zambians? KAHONGOH LYA
Leaders like sweets from these people who are called investors with duty free. Now they are busy milking Zambians. We buy 1 = 1 dollar, ZRA = 1 dollar yet there is transport and so on. How are we going to be developed?
As an authority what is the way forward legally or otherwise CCZ? Bishop Nkole - Kabwe
As long as we keep on crying about the past we will not win. Zambians are best people to develop Zambia. Let us develop local capacity to maximise from natural resources. MUKWAKWA - KAPIRI
Copper profits are used to build external economies because they are externalised. Building economy involves spending. What we get from mines is for hand and mouth. We need to re engage mine owners and renegotiate proper share of profits. After 45 years of independence we should not have 80% poverty levels.
Hi everyone. At one time I invite an investor and I did everything for him and the company I did invite I also got land for and today they say they do not need me. I have not stolen from them, what should I do? Lsk
Government is importing fertilisers at the expense of NCZ. Does it make sense?
As long as we still continue having old and finished same politicians in government, we will never go anywhere because of greediness. Fr. Bashi K Lusaka
The problems is poor leaders in politician and have personal interest. In shot we are not lead by Christian in this country.
The Zambian government does not use their initiative to develop the nation
No leader in Zambia will think of any good will to us because they are our Masters and not our Servants. SAM JAU SAKALA
Can someone tell me motive behind building the wusakile boxes (houses) and Nkana east by the white miners-bohada. Ndola
Indeed, God has given us abundant resources. Honestly why should we remain poor? HK PULE NDOLA
Is Zambia a rich country?
Good program westerners can’t survive without enslaving us worse still elite leaders a thieves we a selling our inheritance please bring awareness Church arise
Zambia is a copper country, why can’t mineral tax finance 80% of budget? CC - Kitwe
The issue of investors in Zambia is more of day light robbery. If our benefit only employment then Zambians are doomed
The government claims to be building on the promise, but there is rather too little pressure on investors. Citizens get meagre salaries and the government benefits less. Could the government see to it that Zambians benefit as much as investors? .(H.V.S. Chingola)
I think the problem is that the Church is not taking its God given responsibility of giving direction to the national leadership all over the world. BR KATUMBI
Those men a genius please, we need such talks again & again, tell them & let’s hop RB is listening to that program. Mwanza J.C in L/STONE
It seems our govt leaders are very short sighted vis a vis promoting interests of foreign investors against interests of Zambians, particularly poor or under privileged Zambians. Donald - Mansa
This program is really educative. I agree with Rev Chulu, investors just milk us and later dump us like anything. Our leaders too do not dnt have love for us but for them. it’s sad.
As much as all facts are on the ground how are we going to be in charge of our resources? D CHONGO
Time has come for men of God to rise and talk things are not OK in Zambia. MWAMBA
The biggest challenge Zambia has is lack of visionary leadership. What we have are people whose interest is to amass wealth ignoring their call to provide pragmatic leadership. Zambia needs selfless citizens to bring glory to this land. DS chipata.
Government leaders have no interest in serving the people of Zambia they are only interested in enriching themselves. GIVEN KS STAGE 1
Good discussion. Help us implement what you arer talking about especially people of Solwezi before we are doomed. N Ndandanda - Solwezi
Men of God you have us an eye opener.
Our weak policies coupled with selfish leadership has brought up this unbearable situation. Men of God speak for the people; our political machinery can’t see what you are bringing out.
Yes, Zambia is a very-very rich country but were da riches go only da government knows we a suffering because more powers a given to investors then Zambians
I agree with da panel that da Zambian polices are weak in Kaoma there is a team of investors when actually they are just harvester feasting on our raw materials
We d people to understand that we are in trouble with so called investor men of God your saying the truth Rev. Muma.
Gentlemen, as long as the government directs, administers and finances the constitutional making process; Zambia shall never have people’s friendly constitution. BIKOKO
Local people are not ignorant, they are betrayed by leaders.
To the panel talk of Hetro Mining in Kasempa which was getting 50 trucks and trailers of copper per day, salaries for workers K250 000 per month, damaged roads in Kasempa but no repairs, is this investment? Ndola.
It’s sad to see our mining towns fall to pieces e.g. the only meaningful development is what was done by the colonial planners with copper revenue. Today towns like Chingola infrastructure has collapsed and replaced by Tuntembas, main roads washed away in once cleanest town in Zambia. Poor planning and control - GM Chingola
The programme is very educative, we need such message & action in our country - Rev Kakoma-Choma
It's good discussion. I wish your contributions will sink into minds and heart of our leaders.
Men of God in Mufulira and Chingola let us not just Pray and watch but we should act for the sake of God’s people. We are a prophetic voice. Fr Ponda
It’s true our government has poor, selfish policies and don’t protect their people because they have been corrupted with cash in their pockets. Jordan Lumwana

Barrick, Tanzanian Security Forces & Legal System: Allies in Crime?

2010-01-19T12:10:00.001+02:00

LOOK AT MY SKIN: This is one of the Victims of the North Mara Toxic sludge spillage that left a dozens of people dead and thousands of Livestock. Barrick still contests that the spillage did not have any impact and trying the best they could to conceal the Truth.

“Mayo nacha” – Mother I am dying! Was the only cry of the 13 year Old girl when Barrick Gold Corporation Employees in Sengerema at Barrick’s own exploration camp decided to take the little girl’s innocence away by giving her for sexual pleasure to a dog. Justice is assumed been met through the legal system in Tanzania but is this enough is this the justice we desire? Read on...

Allies in Crime

“Canada has always spat on the face of Tanzanians!” read a line on a mail from one of my friends after I circulated the article which publicised the deportation of Canadian diplomat who spat at the police personnel in Tanzania. But spitting on one’s face does not equal the untold story of the 13 year old girl who was forced to have sexual intercourse with a dog in the hands of Barrick Gold Corporation in Sengerema District – Tanzania.

Following this wicked act from Barrick Gold Corporation in Sengerema, the local community members seem not to be so very happy with the way the whole case was handled with claims that, “the white man who was in charge and who owned the dog was shipped out of the country secretly aided by the security forces in Tanzania” so claimed one of the locals.

This has a little similarity with the exit of the diplomat who spat on one of us and then was left to go scot-free. But here we must take note of all the diplomatic immunity issues involved.

A Crime Well Planned

The accounts recorded on the judgement of this sad happening in the life of this little girl leave much truth to be sought for. From the accounts of the three accused persons to that of the veterinarian who attended the dog after the act there are traces that would suggest that this was a crime well planned from a layman’s point of view.

With a drink and a bath, the accused persons dialogued in a language the young girl could not understand save the words, “tumpeleke sasa” (let’s take her now – in Kiswahili) forcing the girl to enter into the fenced area, took off her clothes and forced her to bend.

“He pulled me and took off my clothes and held me on the back of my head and bent me, there was a board. Job and Shija held me crying; mother I am dying (“Mayo Nacha” in her mother tongue – Sukuma). The dog went around and came and held me by its legs and inserted its long thing in my vagina...” reiterated the Girl – according to the printed Judgement copy.

After the act the dog named Badya is reported to have been taken to the veterinary doctor for check up where it was found to be ‘safe’ having no transmissible disease. In his statement before the court, the veterinarian, “Dr. Yohana David Segenge testified under oath that on 3^rd April 2009 he examined the dog... the dog was brought to him by the employees of Barrick and the dog was already vaccinated at South Africa against any disease that can be transmitted to human being. That in his conclusion at the report he recommended the victim be examined and given treatment by a medical doctor.”

What is most confusing is when the veterinarian, Dr. Segenge said (according to the judgement) that, “the dog was brought to him almost two weeks after the alleged incidence and his report was of the date of examination only. Not before examination. He added that he don’t know and could not know if the dog was injured and heal before being brought to him for examination.”

The Judgement

Delivered on the 23^rd March and 4^th May 2009 before Hon. G. E. Mariki, RM; the court house woke to a solemn statement pronouncing how an innocent girl was forced “to have sexual intercourse with a dog.”

“This judgement arises from a very sad story of inhuman act of forcing a human being to have sexual intercourse with a dog. Apart from being a human being the victim was a child aged 13 years old” reads the opening paragraph of the judgement.”

In this court – the Resident Magistrate Court of Mwanza at Mwanza the three accused persons were faced with three (3) counts, namely; “sexual exploitation of a child c/s 138 B (1) (e) of the Penal Code Cap 16 R.E.2002, sexual exploitation of a child c/s 138 B (1) (a) of the Penal Code, and sexual exploitation of a child c/s 138 B (1) (d) of the Penal Code.”

Beyond the Judgement

The judge made his verdict and delivered the sentence but there are still questions, myriads of questions being posed by the local people in Sengerema; is there any other action beyond the sentence of the three accused? What will the legal system of Tanzania, the government of Tanzania and the government of Canada do to bring the other ‘missing’ accused from Barrick Gold Corporation who is claimed to have been “escorted secretly out of the country after the incidence in Sengerema took place?” Is 20 + 20 + 15 concurrent jail term on the Tanzanians justice enough for the 13 year old Girl; and even for the trio?

Just as in the case of the Canadian diplomat who had to be deported back to Canada for ‘misconduct,’ we have not heard of the Tanzanian government demanding that all the diplomatic immunities be uplifted and the then diplomat be returned to Tanzania to face the law.

The legal system in Tanzania should liaise with the Central Government to bring about the justice that is extremely needed by this 13 year old girl. We have seen a great measure of dragging feet on all the other cases against Barrick Gold Corporation on the part of the government. Is this what your fellow Tanzanians voted you in for; protecting the interests of foreigners at the expense of your own constituents?

Stretched to the Limit

The Tanzanian population is tired of these crimes against humanity in our very soil. People are tired with systems that do not work but since we are such a ‘peace loving population’ we accept the slap on the other cheek.

There are already words going around Sengerema of Barrick Gold Corporation’s human resource manager going around looking for the girl, “...she came here the other day asking us to tell her where the girl is and that Barrick wants to help her. What we need is justice.”

At first it was the Bulyanhulu case, the never stopping toxic sludge spilling at the North Mara Mine, the container carrying weapons bound for North Mara, the poorly built houses and low or no compensations at Buzwagi and now a little girl’s innocence taken by being forced to be known carnally by a dog. What next should we expect from Barrick Gold Corporation?

Emotional scenes at Copenhagen: Lumumba Di-Aping @ Africa Civil Society Meeting – 8 Dec 2009

2009-12-11T08:31:00.001+02:00

Posted in ALL BLOG POSTS, nature & environment by adamwelz on December 8, 2009

Dear All

The leak of a so-called ‘Danish text’ that would sideline the UN in future climate deals is reverberating around the Copenhagen negotiations. (see http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/08/copenhagen-climate-summit-disarray-danish-text)

Today I witnessed an unexpected and extraordinary outburst of candour from one of the key players in these negotiations — Lumumba Di-Aping, Sudanese by birth and chief negotiator of the so-called G77 bloc (which mostly consists of poor countries).

I attended an ad-hoc meeting in a meeting room of the Bella Center attended by about 100 African representatives of civil society and a few African parliamentarians (among them Lance Greyling, an MP from South Africa) this afternoon. The meeting was called at short notice and its agenda was not announced. After a few minutes of introductions Di-Aping was given the floor to speak to fellow Africans. Requests were made by organisers to turn off all microphones so as not to record what was going to be said, although Di-Aping made a point of turning his on, saying half-jokingly “they are probably listening anyway”.

He did not start his speech immediately. Instead he sat silently, tears rolling down his face. He put his head in his hands and said “We have been asked to sign a suicide pact.” The room was frozen into silence, shocked by the sight of a powerful negotiator, an African elder if you like, exhibiting such strong emotion. He apologised to the audience, but said that in his part of Sudan it was “better to stand and cry than to walk away.”

Once he had composed himself, Di-Aping launched into an eloquent and direct attack on the apparent subversion of the climate negotiation process by certain developing countries, the leaked so-called “Danish” agreement that has become the talk of the conference. Since I did not feel it appropriate to stand up and video the proceedings, I live-tweeted what I could (www.twitter.com/adamwelz).

Speaking in measured tones, Di-Aping first attacked the 2 degrees C warming maximum that most rich countries currently consider acceptable. Referring continuously to science, in particular parts of the latest IPCC report (which he referenced by page and section) he said that 2 degrees C globally meant 3.5 degrees C for much of Africa. He called global warming of 2 degrees C “certain death for Africa”, a type of “climate fascism” imposed on Africa by high carbon emitters. He said Africa was being asked to sign on to an agreement that would allow this warming in exchange for $10 billion, and that Africa was also being asked to “celebrate” this deal.

He then went on to forthrightly address the weakness of many African negotiating delegations, noting that many were unprepared and that some members were either lazy or had been “bought off” by the industrialised nations. He singled out South Africa, saying that some members of that delegation had actively sought to disrupt the unity of the bloc. He said that civil society needed to hold its negotiators to account, but warned of a long and difficult struggle for a fair climate deal (words to the effect of ‘you have no idea of the powers that are arrayed against you’, spoken in the tone of someone who has spent years interacting with these powers.)

He said that people all over the world had to be made aware of what a bad climate deal means for Africa (“I am absolutely convinced that what Western governments are doing is NOT acceptable to Western civil society”).

He explained that, by wanting to subvert the established post-Kyoto process, the industrialised nations were effectively wanting to ignore historical emissions, and by locking in deals that would allow each citizen of those countries to carry on emitting a far greater amount of carbon per year than each citizen in poor countries, would prevent many African countries from lifting their people out of poverty. This was nothing less than a colonisation of the sky, he said. “$10 billion is not enough to buy us coffins”.

Obama, he said, would probably be brought to Copenhagen to ’sanctify’ this deal. “What is Obama going to tell his daughters? That their [Kenyan] relatives’ lives are not worth anything? It is unfortunate that after 500 years-plus of interaction with the West we [Africans] are still considered ‘disposables’ “. “My good friends… we’ve got to get together and fight the fight.”

Di-Aping accused a group of US industrialists behind an organisation called the Climate Works Foundation of being behind the efforts to sideline the process and African countries, noting that rich governments did not want to pay the true cost of climate change or confront their own citizens with the urgent need to change their lifestyles.

Calling the current deal that was being proposed “worse than no deal”, he called on Africans to reject it — “I would rather die with my dignity than sign a deal that will channel my people into a furnace.” Africans had to make clear demands of their leaders not to sign on. He suggested a couple of slogans: “One Africa, one degree” and “Two degrees is suicide”

Di-Aping’s speech crystallised the room into action. A demonstration was immediately planned, and a few minutes after its end the people in the room converged on a central point in the Bella Center and began chanting and shouting — attracting a storm of media interest. (Di-Aping later addressed a formal press conference where he repeated some the points made in the African meeting, apparently no less eloquently but far less emotionally.)

Some commentators have suggested that the leak of the so-called “Danish” proposal will not significantly affect the progress of the talks here. After witnessing Di-Aping speaking to the African group, I am not so sure. It’s becoming increasingly clear that many rich countries are seeking a deal that falls well short of what the vast majority of current science indicates we need to do to avoid extremely damaging climate change, and that representatives of people in poor countries are becoming increasingly fed up at their ongoing marginalisation by the rich governments. The divide between the civil servants and NGO managers lazily discussing career options on the train across Copenhagen and those that have grasped the urgency of climate change is becoming more apparent.

With clear, credible voices like Di-Aping’s articulating the frustration of so many, are we seeing a fracturing of the Copenhagen process? Is this conference, which seems to be trying so hard to be just another ‘normal’ conference, with ordered meeting halls, name tags and too many glossy brochures floating around, going to turn into something really historic and interesting?

A note: Di-Aping mentioned in his speech that he was named after the famous Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba, even though he was Sudanese (“My parents were Lumumbist”). Patrice Lumumba was of course murdered after asserting himself too strongly against western powers, and replaced by the famously corrupt but US- and Belgian-friendly Mobutu Sese Seko.

Cheers

Adam

Where Did We Miss the Mark: Female Misogynism Vs Male Chauvinism?

2009-12-07T09:53:00.001+02:00

I have been so much interested if not fascinated in the different opinions one is getting when you start talking about the sixteen days of activism against gender based violence (GBV), human Rights and the egalitarian movement. But I have this to highlight...

I know that some of my readers will brand it ‘absurd’ when I say that licentiousness in our age and time have been introduced by the crave in mankind to be the real ‘God’ in an unreal dynasty. A dynasty encroached by lawlessness, and irresponsibility of the highest order.

Africa still accounts for so much of such irresponsibility going by the name of Women battering. But what goes even unmentioned in the escalating rates of men battering – to which a number of human rights advocates have turned their backs on for decades.

The Ancient Faith

Traditionally, the majority believed in the creation account that we find in Genesis 2:21. But as days progressed we came to the age and the emergence of the evolution theory – the Bing Bang and so many other ideologies that mobilised a lot of support for Darwinism.

The ancient faith said that, “Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."

A number of you out there know what Darwinism and all those who subscribe to the evolution theory talk on issues of creation. Many of us today do not read the Bible as it is rated as a myth and an old and should-be-forgotten history book passed with time.

Men and Chauvinism

When we look at the order set above and look at what is happening among us – humankind today; an age when men (masculine) think of themselves superior than any other human being in the face of the earth. All the men are mistaken and disillusioned! On the other hand a number of women as the result of the treatment they have long received from the chauvinists. On the other hand, a minority of men are reacting to the activities carried on them by female misogynists who do not look into issues with a balanced views but with the eye of, ‘we-have-been-tormented-long’ it is now payback time.

We forget the real meaning of the creation ordinance that was set before us as the created rational beings. I am enraged a lot of times when people want to reduce us to a single cell theory leaving that truth which sets us above all created things in the universe, be it on earth, under the waters, on top of the highest mountains and in the skies.

Against Male Chauvinism and Female Misogynism

Our world today (as I said before) is filled with massive bias against sexes. Of course we only have two prominent sexes – males and females. A number of incidences have been recorded the world over on the many forms people are fighting the equality in the universal society.

In my search for a balanced or something close to a balanced view on gender equality, I came across this: “That the woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.” (Matthew Henry)

To depict just one point from what I have just turned your attention above, that a woman – according to the Bible was created “...but out of his (the man’s) side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved” made Adam – the first man ever created break out in JOY and unmistaken assurance when he said, “This is now bone of my bone!” in other words, he proclaimed to himself and the world that “Now I have what I wanted, and which all the creatures could not furnish me with.”

The Great Deviation

In my view and from my reflections on the words I have just quoted above and what I see around me; I now believe that we have deviated far, so far away from the truth. With the theories that deny the creation order, we have made the alternatives that never work but make us irresponsible and cling to all sorts of rights that have created far too much confusion in our society.

Peoples’ Interests Must be Priority in National Development - JCTR advises

2009-12-04T13:01:00.000+02:00

THIS IS LIFE IN DOWN TOWN LUSAKA: These senior Citizens of the land make way home after a day's work at the Soweto market in Lusaka Central Business Division. Poverty is relative in other parts of the World but NOT in a number of Natural Resource rich countries. PHOTO/ER

“Government needs to become more committed to infrasructure development and re-align its priorities and policies towards national needs if it has to deliver on its promise of poverty reduction,” says Mr. Andrew Banda, Programme Assistant for Debt, Aid and Trade Program at the Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection (JCTR).

In the same vain Privilege Haangandu, Program Officer – Debt Policy says that with the current trend of continued non-implementation and postponement of development programmes, the Vision 2030 and National Development Plans will barely be met. This comes in view of the the Zambian Government signing a US$ 6 million loan in 2007 with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) to co-fund the project to rehabilitate forty feeder roads on the Copperbelt, and it’s continued delay in implementation.

“It is imperative that Government streamlines implementation of developmental programmes especially when dealing with debt resources as this has serious fiscal consequences”, observes Mr. Banda. “Socio-economic injustice will continue to be perpetuated among the poor if basic infrastructure is not developed. We saw this when we monitored the BADEA loan contracted by government for feeder roads in Copperbelt Province. This is also a trend evident in the JCTR monthly Basic Needs Basket which reveals that the cost of living is always closely related to the availability and state of infrastructure facilities,” he further adds.

JCTR in conjunction with Jubilee Ndola challenges the Government to hasten the implementation of various infrastructure development projects which will enable the country meet Vision 2030. The organisation reminds Government that a good starting point is the development of infrastructure which will act as an anchor to the development of industries and help in alleviating poverty levels in the country. The JCTR urges Government that if transparency and accountability have to be ensured, participation of local communities has to be encouraged. This is in order to ensure that resources allocated for development benefit the intended recipients.

“Delaying infrastructure development must not be an option because of the many pressing needs of the country. Government needs to place more commitment on timely implementation process and fulfill its pledge and promise of poverty reduction through equitable economic growth”, concludes Mr. Banda.

This is why the JCTR in collaboration with Jubilee Ndola took the initiative to share the findings of the $6 million BADEA loan for feeder roads in the Copperbelt Province at a Public Forum in the Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Thursday, November 26, 2009.

Unsung Heroes: Need Resources to Fight Gender Violence

2009-12-03T17:05:00.000+02:00

I NEED HELP: Women in a number of communities carry the same plight the lady (pictured right name withheld) - expressed when we met. Surely there is so much we can do to bring this inhuman attitude down. PHOTO/ER

As we commemorate 16 Days of Activism, along with highlighting how extensive the problem still is, we also need to pause a moment to thank the people who work tirelessly 365 days a year to help and support survivors. Perpetual Sichikwenkwe who writes from Zambia takes us down the reflective path so that together we think of how to deal with this evil in our midst. let's read on...

Iriss Phiri, whose home in Lusaka's Chilulu residential area is a haven for women fleeing violence, is one such person. Phiri and her family very often find themselves sharing their home, food, and money to assist women in the area. For Phiri, helping women and girls has been a longtime commitment.

“Helping women, especially those who are victims of violence, started years back when I was employed as a matron at the Lusaka's Evelyn Hone College,” she recalls. “As a matron for a co-education college, I used to handle a lot of cases of female students beaten by their boyfriends. They would rush to my house for help, since as I was the nearest parent figure they could seek refuge from.” Phiri, who worked for the college from 1985-2007, says that this experience inspired her to take action. “One thing I thought was causing a lot of conflicts in relations was lack of counselling among women and men; and in 1997, while I was still working for the college, I started my own organisation known as the Alangizi National Association of Zambia.”

According to Phiri, the problem of gender violence is rising. She recalls women coming to her after their husbands decide to take another wife or girlfriend, and even bring these women into the matrimonial bed. When a woman complains, the husband would beat and chase the woman from her home. She found that most of such cases were from high density areas, which was one of the reasons she chose to build a house in a highly populated residential area - so she could be in constant touch with such women and children.

“Sometimes, I would be enjoying the evening with my family when we just hear a loud knock on the gate of our house. We would rush there only to find a truck full offloading in my yard,” recounts Phiri. “Before I even ask what is happening and where the things are going, I see a miserable woman and her children who have been chased and sometimes beaten by the husband, and they have no where to go.” However, despite her passion and commitment, helping others takes a personal toll on Phiri, who receives little support for the work she does. “It is not always easy to provide food and other necessities, but since I have nowhere to send them, especially in the night, they have to live with us,” she says.

Most of the women who leave the home with nothing. Phiri recalls a case of one women, whose husband took her best friend as a second wife. When the women complained, the man stopped providing for her and her children. The woman was left with little hope until Phiri counseled her about how to get help. According to Phiri, she refers most of the cases to organisations such as Women in Law in Southern Africa, Women in Law and Development, the police, or the YWCA. However, sometimes the YWCA shelters are full. This leaves her with no option but keep some victims in her house. Phiri credits such organisations with helping to guide her in her activities.

Phiri says most women who seek assistance from her are homemakers who are poor and uneducated. “At least every week I receive reports where women are beaten, divorced and they have to beg for food and money from their own husbands even to take their children to school. Because of poverty, they can not leave their abusive husbands.” Phiri tries to empower women through skills such as making beads, but the resources available are too limited to cater for all those in need. Her limited resources also take an emotional toll on her. “I feel very bad to see children who even stop school because their parents have broken up and their mothers have no money to take them to school. Because of the same, I ended up opening a community school (from nursery to grade 7), but the resources are not enough to cater for teachers' salaries and other needs”.

According to Phiri, despite several and numerous efforts that are being put in place to fight gender violence, she feels the scourge is still rife in places like Chilulu because efforts often do not reach isolated communities. She has hope though, saying that it is not too late to win the fight against violence, “because today the fight is a step further than it was yesterday.” People like Iriss Phiri show that indeed, one person can make a difference. And they can make an even bigger difference, if they get the resources and support they need.

*This article is part of the Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service series for

the 16 Days of Activism.

CIDA CUTS TO KAIROS WILL DEVASTATE HUMAN RIGHTS WORK OVERSEAS

2009-12-03T09:12:00.001+02:00

One cannot tell what happens with governments when it comes to issues that pursue justice. CIDA, Canada's development agency is reported to cut support to KAIROS (as stated below) the main question that remains unanswered is; why has CIDA taken this move...

MEDIA RELEASE

Attention: Religion, Foreign, Social and Human Rights Journalists

For Immediate Release Wednesday, 02 December 2009

(Toronto) The Canadian government’s decision to cut funding to KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives will have a devastating impact on KAIROS’ overseas partners and the thousands of marginalized people in local communities they support, KAIROS announced today.

KAIROS, a church based non-governmental organization that represents seven of Canada’s largest denominations, works on a range of social justice issues, including human rights in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

An official from CIDA called KAIROS executive director Mary Corkery on Monday afternoon, November 30^th, to inform her that CIDA would no longer fund KAIROS. Corkery was told that KAIROS no longer fits CIDA priorities. No other explanation or information was provided.

KAIROS’ current contract with CIDA expired in September, but it had received an extension until November 30^th, the day it was informed of the cuts.

“We are disheartened that this longstanding relationship and decades of support by the Canadian government has been ended,” says Corkery. “KAIROS and the millions of Canadians we represent through our member churches and organizations do not understand why these cuts have been made.”

In a message to Bev Oda, Minister for International Cooperation, requesting an explanation, Corkery writes, “I know of no precedent for the Canadian International Development Agency ending a decades-long funding relationship with a major Canadian organization without notice in writing, with no reason and no transition plan”.

The CIDA-funded overseas program received matching financial support from KAIROS’ member churches, church-related organizations and other donors. Since 1973, KAIROS, and the church coalitions from which it was formed eight years ago, had received funding from CIDA to support partners working in regions experiencing some of the world’s most egregious human rights violations.

KAIROS’ work is highly regarded in Canada and overseas. As the November 30^th deadline approached, KAIROS member churches, its partners and other organizations had been writing Minister Oda to request that she approve the KAIROS contract which has been sitting on her desk since July awaiting her signature.

One of those letters came from a Colombian group, the Organización Femenina Popular (the Popular Women’s Group), which has been awaiting CIDA funding through KAIROS.

“As you know, we work in regions in Colombia where armed conflict has resulted in the denial of women’s basic rights. The economic support from KAIROS and CIDA permits us to implement programs which include legal and health services, community kitchens, and other humanitarian assistance that have saved many lives and given possibilities and opportunities to hundreds of women, mothers, wives, daughters, sisters and entire families,” Yolanda Becerra Vega, OFP Director General wrote to Bev Oda on Monday.

“In addition to the impact overseas, these cuts are a loss for Canadians,” says Corkery. “KAIROS educates Canadians across the country about Canada’s work for international development. Our work in Canada and overseas expresses Canadian values in upholding human rights, and is informed by excellent analysis of our partners in the Global South.”

The KAIROS contract that just expired received a positive audit and excellent CIDA evaluation this year. KAIROS submitted its new program proposal for 2009-2013 to CIDA in March 2009. It went through a lengthy approval process within CIDA up until the Minister’s level and has been waiting for approval from the Minister since July 2009.

The government’s decision comes a week after 57 people were massacred in politically motivated killings in the Philippines, including two lawyers from a human rights organization supported by KAIROS, and just days before Prime Minister Stephen Harper heads to China.

- 30 -

Final Briefing Notes: KAIROS 2009-2013 Proposal

December 2, 2009

Request: That CIDA fund the 2009-2013 KAIROS proposal for international development and public engagement on human rights and ecological sustainability.

Situation

KAIROS submitted a 4-year program proposal to CIDA on human rights and ecological sustainability. The total program cost of the proposal is $9,211,483 over four years (CIDA contributes just over $7 million of that amount). This is consistent with previous levels of CIDA funding to KAIROS.

On November 30, we received a call from the Government of Canada informing us that our 2009-2013 program proposal had been rejected and that KAIROS would no longer be receiving funding from CIDA. We asked for an explanation and were informed that our program did not fit the Government of Canada’s priorities. This was the last day of an extension to our current proposal. No written explanation has been provided.
This decision, if not reversed, would cut funds to 21 ecumenical and citizen’s organizations in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and cut educational work that helps Canadians across the country to develop skills and knowledge in the exercise of their global citizenship.

Background

KAIROS, and its precursor organizations, have been funded by CIDA since 1973. That is over 35 years of positive collaboration between the churches (working ecumenically through KAIROS) and CIDA on international development and public engagement.
The KAIROS 2006-2009 proposal received a positive audit report and an excellent evaluation. The CIDA evaluator described “positive and measureable progress toward the achievement of the results at the output, outcome and impact levels.” The evaluator commented that “experience and good judgment is one of the important reasons for their success in achieving results...”.

· KAIROS staff worked closely with global partners to develop the 2009-2013 program proposal which focused on human rights and ecological justice. It was submitted to CIDA in March 2009 and went fairly quickly through all levels of approval and arrived on the desk of Bev Oda, the Minister of International Cooperation, in July 2009. It remained on the Minister’s desk for five months. Any adjustments to the program requested by our program officer in the approvals phase were made.

In September 2009, when our agreement had still not been signed, we were granted a two- month extension on our previous contribution agreement. During this time we received no communication from the Minister’s office. On November 30, the last day of this extension, we received the phone call from CIDA informing us that KAIROS would not be funded.

CIDA priorities and human rights

With the full support of CIDA staff, and in collaboration with our partners, our proposal was developed within two priority sectors of CIDA: promoting good governance (human rights) and advancing ecological sustainability (reducing the impact of climate change and addressing land degradation). Our proposal was deemed by CIDA staff to be within CIDA criteria and priorities throughout the approval process.
Our proposal places a strong priority on advancing human rights. States are obliged to protect, respect and ensure fulfillment of human rights. Canada is expected to collaborate to fulfill these rights, including providing international assistance for these efforts. Our proposal is one way in which the government can demonstrate that it is providing support to the fulfillment of rights around the globe.

Our focus human rights, is completely consistent with the ODA Accountability Act which came into affect in June of 2008. The act requires all Official Development Assistance “to be consistent with international human rights standards”.

Impact of the decision

This decision, if it is not reversed, will have a devastating impact on the work and well-being of our partners overseas, the hundreds of marginalized communities and thousands of the people who have benefited from their programs. Furthermore, it will decimate our education program in Canada, which enhances Canadian’s commitment to international cooperation.
KAIROS supports partners in countries such Sudan, the Congo, the Philippines, and Colombia who face an extreme human rights and humanitarian crises as well as political repression. Many of our overseas partners risk their lives for the work that they do. KAIROS’ accompaniment, advocacy and education work with partners has saved lives.
In the Congo, KAIROS funding means a women’s legal clinic to address rampant gender-based violence will be established. Loss of this funding to our critical human rights partner, Héritiers de la Justice, compromises this critical work to fight rape as a weapon of war.

· In Sudan, KAIROS is working with Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) and its members to mobilize greater action for democratic peace. The full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan is essential to ensuring basic humanitarian, food security, livelihood needs of women and children and their communities will be met. Without KAIROS funding, the SCC will not be able to adequately pressure parties to implement this peace agreement. In a country with very weak civil society networks, SCC has been an essential voice in negotiating and implementing peace.

In Indonesia, KAIROS, through CIDA, supports KONTRAS: The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence. KONTRAS is highly recognized as a credible human rights organization in Indonesia and internationally, working specifically on human rights monitoring, documentation and advocacy. KONTRAS plays a lead role in ensuring the Indonesian government investigates past military abuses and compensates victims (and the families of victims) of human rights violations and military atrocities. Without KAIROS funding, KONTRAS will lose ground on the achievements made over the years in widening democratic space in Indonesia and will be unable to hold the Indonesian government accountable for national and international human rights covenants.
In Colombia, KAIROS supports a grassroots women’s human rights organization, Organizacion Femenina Popular (OFP), in Magdela Medio, a region that has experienced some of the worst human rights abuses in Colombia. The OFP now has a membership of 5,000 women in the region of Magdalena Medio and runs 22 women’s centers, offering programs which include integrated community development, human rights of women, health and legal services, and education. In a recent letter the OFP appealed to Minister Oda to continue funding to KAIROS, “so that our sons and daughters grow up without being recruited by armed groups, kidnapped or assassinated - so that they have the right to a dignified life.”

Call to action

KAIROS and partners call on the networks and supporters of KAIROS to meet with their MPs to discuss this critical matter. Please, respectfully and politely,

-speak about your own positive involvement with KAIROS;

-express grave concern about this decision;

-state KAIROS’ desire to restore our long standing relationship with CIDA;

-emphasize the impacts of this decision on global partners and our work in Canada;

-ask them to call on the Government of Canada to reverse this decision.

Please also write to Prime Minister Stephen Harper pm@pmo-cpm.gc.ca, Bev Oda, Minister of International Cooperation oda.b@parl.gc.ca, and Margaret Biggs, President of CIDA Margaret.Biggs@acdi-cida.gc.ca , requesting a reversal of the decision. Please copy your letters to KAIROS at jhenry@kairoscanada.org.

Conflict Minerals: A cover for U.S. allies and Western mining interests?

2009-12-02T11:07:00.003+02:00

“African advocates say Canada owes Congo” on the Vancouver, Canada-based Straight-com, reads, “Women are in constant danger in Eastern Congo, where most of the recent fighting has taken place and rape is widespread.” The story, quoting two Congolese now in Canada, attributes the violence not to tribal conflict but to “a war of resources … a war of cellphones” but is divided over whether Canada should intervene militarily.

Photo: Dominic Nahr, MSF

By Kambale Musavuli and Bodia Macharia

As global awareness grows around the Congo and the silence is finally being broken on the current and historic exploitation of Black people in the heart of Africa, a myriad of Western based “prescriptions” are being proffered. Most of these prescriptions are devoid of social, political, economic and historical context and are marked by remarkable omissions. The conflict mineral approach or efforts emanating from the United States and Europe are no exception to this symptomatic approach which serves more to perpetuate the root causes of Congo’s challenges than to resolve them.

The conflict mineral approach has an obsessive focus on the FDLR and other rebel groups while scant attention is paid to Uganda, which has an International Court of Justice ruling against it for looting and crimes against humanity in the Congo, and Rwanda, whose role in the perpetuation of the conflict and looting of Congo is well documented by U.N. reports and international arrest warrants for its top officials.

Rwanda is the main transit point for minerals stolen from the Congo irrespective of the rebel group – FDLR, CNDP or others – transporting the minerals. According to Dow Jones, Rwanda’s mining sector output grew 20 percent in 2008 from the year earlier due to increased export volumes of tungsten, cassiterite and coltan, the country’s three leading minerals with which Rwanda is not well endowed.

In fact, should Rwanda continue to pilfer Congo’s minerals, its annual mineral export revenues are expected to reach $200 million by 2010. Former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Herman Cohen says it best when he notes, “(H)aving controlled the Kivu provinces for 12 years, Rwanda will not relinquish access to resources that constitute a significant percentage of its gross national product.” As long as the West continues to give the Kagame regime carte blanche, the conflict and instability will endure.

According to Global Witness’ 2009 report, “Faced With a Gun What Can You Do,” Congolese government statistics and reports by the Group of Experts and NGOs, Rwanda is one of the main conduits for illicit minerals leaving the Congo. It is amazing that proponents of the conflict mineral approach shout loudly about making sure that the trade in minerals does not benefit armed groups, yet the biggest armed beneficiary of Congo’s minerals is the Rwandan regime headed by Paul Kagame. Nonetheless, the conflict mineral approach is remarkably silent about Rwanda’s complicity in the fueling of the conflict in the Congo and the fleecing of Congo’s riches.

When this Gecamines open pit copper mine in Katanga, one of the world’s largest, and others like it shut down during Congo’s civil war, Congolese continued mining for their own benefit. The miners rebelled when the company tried to expel them. State-owned Gecamines was until recently headed by Canadian Paul Fortin. – Photo: David Lewis, Reuters

Advocates of the conflict mineral approach would be far more credible if they had ever called for any kind of pressure whatsoever on mining companies that are directly involved in either fueling the conflict or exploiting the Congolese people. The United Nations, the Congolese Parliament, the Carter Center, Southern Africa Resource Watch and several other NGOs have documented corporations that have pilfered Congo’s wealth and contributed to the perpetuation of the conflict. These companies include but are not limited to Traxys, OM Group, Blattner Elwyn Group, Freeport McMoran, Eagle Wings/Trinitech, Lundin, Kemet, Banro, AngloGold Ashanti, Anvil Mining, and First Quantum.

The conflict mineral approach, like the Blood Diamond campaign from which it draws its inspiration, is silent on the question of resource sovereignty which has been a central question in the geo-strategic battle for Congo’s mineral wealth. It was over this question of resource sovereignty that the West assassinated Congo’s first democratically elected prime minister, Patrice Lumumba, and stifled the democratic aspirations of the Congolese people for over three decades by installing and backing the dictator Joseph Mobutu.

In addition, the United States also backed the 1996 and 1998 invasions of Congo by Rwanda and Uganda instead of supporting the non-violent, pro-democracy forces inside the Congo. Unfortunately and to the chagrin of the Congolese people, some of the strongest advocates of the conflict mineral approach are former Clinton administration officials who supported the invasions of Congo by Rwanda and Uganda. This may in part explain the militaristic underbelly of the conflict mineral approach, which has as its so-called second step a comprehensive counterinsurgency.

The focus on the East of Congo falls in line with the long-held obsession by some advocates in Washington who incessantly push for the balkanization of the Congo. Their focus on “Eastern Congo” is inadequate and does not fully take into account the nature and scope of the dynamics in the entire country. Political decisions in Kinshasa, the capital in the West, have a direct impact on the events that unfold in the East of Congo and are central to any durable solutions.

The central claim of the conflict mineral approach is to bring an end to the conflict; however, the conflict can plausibly be brought to an end much quicker through diplomatic and political means. The so-called blood mineral route is not the quickest way to end the conflict.

We have already seen how quickly world pressure can work with the sidelining of rebel leader Laurent Nkunda and the demobilization and/or rearranging of his CNDP rebel group in January 2009, as a result of global pressure placed on the CNDP’s sponsor, Paul Kagame of Rwanda. More pressure needs to be placed on leaders such as Kagame and Uganda’s Museveni, who have been at the root of the conflict since 1996.

The FDLR can readily be pressured as well, especially with most of their political leadership residing in the West; however, this should be done within a political framework, which brings all the players to the table, as opposed to the current militaristic, dichotomous, good-guy-bad-guy approach, where the West sees Kagame and Museveni as the “good guys” and everyone else as bad. The picture is far greyer than Black and White.

A robust political approach by the global community would entail the following prescriptions: Join Sweden and Netherlands in pressuring Rwanda to be a partner for peace and a stabilizing presence in the region. The United States and Great Britain in particular should apply more pressure on their allies Rwanda and Uganda to the point of withholding aid if necessary
Hold to account companies and individuals through sanctions on trafficking in minerals whether with rebel groups or neighboring countries, particularly Rwanda and Uganda. Canada has chimed in as well but has been deadly silent on the exploitative practices of its mining companies in the Congo. Canada must do more to hold its mining companies accountable as is called for in Bill C-300.
Encourage world leaders to be more engaged diplomatically and place a higher priority on what is the deadliest conflict in the world since World War II.
Reject the militarization of the Great Lakes region represented by AFRICOM, which has already resulted in the suffering of civilian population; the strengthening of authoritarian figures such as Uganda’s Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, and Rwanda’s Kagame, who won the 2003 “elections” with 95 percent of the vote; and the restriction of political space in their countries.
Demand that the Obama administration engage differently from its current military-laden approach and take the lead in pursuing an aggressive diplomatic path with an emphasis on pursuing a regional political framework that can lead to lasting peace and stability.

To learn more about the current crisis in the Congo, visit www.friendsofthecongo.org and join the global movement in support of the people of the Congo at www.congoweek.org.

Kambale Musavuli is spokesperson and student coordinator for Friends of the Congo. He can be reached at kambale@friendsofthecongo.org. Bodia Macharia is the president of Friends of the Congo/ Canada. She can be reached at bodia@friendsofthecongo.org.

Kill Us But you Will Never Stop Us!

2009-11-30T12:39:00.000+02:00

Assassination of a Leader Opposed to Mining Exploitation in Chiapas

Elio Henriquez

Correspondent for “La Jornada”

Saturday 28th November, 2009

On Friday night, 27^th , Mariano Abarca Roblero was assassinated by gunshot. Mariano was one of the strongest opposition leaders against mining exploitation by the Canadian mining company Blackfire in the hills of Chiapas, Mexico.

Gustavo Castro, of the Network of Mexicans Affected by Mining (REMA for its initials in Spanish), said that according to those close to Mariano he was assassinated around 8:30 PM in the main part of Chicomuselo, close to the border with Guatemala, by a motorcyclist carrying a high-caliber weapon.

They explained that Abarca Roblero was talking outside of his house with Orlando Velásquez, also a member of REMA-Chipaas, when an unidentified person shot Abarca in the head and the chest. Velásquez was also was wounded and was transported immediately to a hospital en the city of Comitán.

Last August 17^th, Mariano Abarca was arraigned by the Prosecutor General of State Justice after he was accused by Blackfire of various charges including organized crime. Due to a national and international outcry against this injustice, he was freed on the 24^th of the same month, where he immediately joined the sit-in with his fellows in the municipal seat of Chicomuselo to press for the immediate removal of the company. At the end of August, the participants in a second meeting of Chiapas members of REMA in Chicomuselo, celebrated his release.

Castro said that the opposition leader in the exploitation of mines had filed a criminal complaint against a man (whose name was not provided) who was supposedly used by Blackfire to incarcerate Mariano in August. He said that this person had been summoned to appear before the proper authorities yesterday, but the case was postponed until next Thursday.

Gustavo Casrtro put forth his theory that the murder of Mariano Abarca is related to his years of campaigning against mining exploitation.

According to data from REMA, the federal authorities have authorized 54 permissions for mining exploitation to Canadian Companies in their municipalities: to Blackfire extract barite, gold and antimony en more than 10 concessions; Linear Gold Corp, with 24 concessions, mostly gold and some of them granted for 50 years; Frontier Dev. Group with 12 projects, and also with New Gold Inc. with three concessions and Radius Gold with 7, although apparently these last ones have been withdrawn.

PRESS RELEASE

AMAP CONDEMNS THE ASSISTATION OF MARIANO ABARCA

28^th November 2009

The Mexican Alliance for the People’s Self-determination (AMAP for its initials in Spanish) expresses its condemnation for the assassination of Mariano Abarca Roblero, which occurred the night of the 27^th of November in Chicomuselo, Chiapas. The same attack also resulted in the grave wounding of his companion Orlando Velazquez.

Mariano led a citizen’s resistance in the municipality of Chicomuselo against the Canadian mining company Blackfire and participated actively in REMA (the Mexican Network of People Affected by Mining). Given his intense activity he was harassed on many occasions ans arbitrarily detained last August, where he was kept for 10 days before being released.

However, the hostility against his person has recently increased. Only a few days ago he filed formal charges against the Directors of the Blackfire, who had delivered death threats in a public manner and appear to have followed through on them.

AMAP demands that this crime not go unpunished and beseeches to the government of Chiapas led by Juan Sabines that the material and intellectual perpetrators of this crime be prosecuted to the full extent of the law , and that the Attorney General’s office immediately follow the investigations already begun on the denunciation made by Mariano against LUIS ANTONIO FLORES VILLATORO and CIRO ROBLERO PEREZ, the first of these head of public relations for the Blackfire mine, who had publicly threatened to kill Mariano Abarca.

No more crimes against defenders of social justice! End the criminalization of citizen protest!

For the National Coordinator of AMAP

Carlos Beas Torres

Who is the Culprit? Shifting of Blames

2009-11-26T13:34:00.001+02:00

The world is now faced with what a number of people have termed as “the greatest threat of all time – Climate Change” but I have always wondered whether people take into consideration on what has led to this calamity befalling our beautiful universe. Let’s take the trip together to reflection world...

In the recent past we have heard of a number of pledges from countries, individuals for hefty amounts of money to curb deforestation and cutting down carbon emissions; right from the USA to the palace where Prince Charles sits and now we read, “US pledges $275m to scheme for reducing deforestation and cutting carbon emissions.”

But there is an element that has been showing an ugly face since mid 2000. That is the shifting on blame where the pastoralism communities largely in Africa and the poor and marginalised communities in the developing countries are blamed to be the sole contributors to the climatic changes. I must state affirmatively that Cattle grazing in Africa has been more friendly to the environmental sustainability for ages that the mass growing of eucalyptus growing.

Craze for Cleaner Environment

Back in 2004 while I worked as a journalist in Tanzania, there were three big issues that emerged as concerns to the Civil Society Organisations (Religious and non-Religious). One was the obsolete stockpiles of DDT in Tanga region, reintroduction of DDT for indoor residual spraying to curb malaria (which I am against to my grave) and government giving out massive chunks of arable land to investors (also known as infesters) to grow plants that are rich in the production of Biofuel and ethane.

The alarm was raised after a number of comparative studies and consultations were conducted. The questions raised at this time which are still valid in my view to date are; who was going to benefit from the Biofuel production in Tanzania, Zambia and other countries in Africa where this project was taking off with the blessings of the international financial institutions? When Biofuel production begins, what type of fuel will be used in taking the work forward fossil fuel or the so advertised and glorified environmental friendly Biofuel? Where will the end user be – in other words where is the market and consumer?

With all these questions in mind, I would like us also to look at the current issue dominating the media limelight. The Northern countries who have played a negative role on the economies of the countries in the so-called ‘third world,’ led in atrocities against humanity and take lead on environment abuse now come around to say that the developing countries are causing climate change when in reality it is not for the safety and welfare of the whole world they are looking for but their own comfort at the disadvantage of the mass. Another question which comes out of all this is, Craze for cleaner

Manage Your Own Mistakes

The political principles adopted by the Northern countries in terms of sovereignty, promotion of patriotism and holding to superpower-complex are interesting but tragic. The interesting part of this is that citizens of the countries involved in atrocities against humanity and abuse of the environment live in oblivion and are proud to be part of that kind of society, the tragic side of it all is the truth that has never been told but well known; that the safe havens and clean atmosphere in the Northern and developed world is founded on the blood of the innocent in the developing countries.

With this in view then, it is time for the western countries to manage their own waste and be responsible for their crimes. There is no point of blaming the pastoral communities for grazing in their own lands and call for reduction of the number of cattle kept by family units in Tanzania and or any other country where pastoralists have their roots just to cover the atrocities committed – led by the craze for superiority. Sadly, I heard my President Jakaya Kikwete at one point and at the wake of rush for land in Tanzania for Biofuel calling pastoralism a “backward tradition!”

Some Statistics

Let me turn your attention to some of the statistics which threw me off balance when I read and reflected on them closely:

70% of the population in a number of the Natural Resource rich Countries lives in Poverty
½ of the worlds riches is controlled by 2% of world’s population
20% of world’s population consumes 80% of its resources
The World spends 12 times more on military than aid to developing countries (which has been looted thoroughly by the developed world)
Nearly 1 billion people of the world’s population go hungry
5,000 people die each day by drinking dirty and or contaminated water (a number as direct results of multinational investments in the Extractive and Agricultural sectors
1 billion people worldwide have no access to safe drinking water
50% of grain traded around the world is for animal/livestock feed and Biofuel
40% arable land have suffered irreparable damage
13 million hectares of natural rain forest disappear every year
¾ of World’s fishing grounds are exhausted, depleted or in dangerous decline
1 mammal in 4, a bird in 8, an amphibian out of 3 are threatened with extinction

Gaps and New Findings

When that remains to be the truth it will suffice also to say here that the gap between the poor and rich in the society is wider than ever before. Hunger is spreading, forests are depleted and arable land give for food for livestock while other land s are plundered for minerals which a number of developed world do not need but cannot let go of for the sake of vain glory.

There are new and emerging wars on Tar sands, Gold mining on and under the glaciers and undersea mining and oil extraction. There is more exploration and the most recent finding says that water has been found on the moon. What if they found Gold, Uranium and other extractable precious metals and stones on the moon?

It will definitely be a rush and the first ones to go there are the ‘first’ nations to take the loot while Africa and other developing countries take the blame. Let’s not forget though that all living matter is linked and what you do to one will certainly, affect all.

The Forgotten Glory!

2009-11-26T09:59:00.000+02:00

LOGS FOR SALE! This is the sight that meets the eyes of a traveller on the road to the Copperbelt - Zambia. Local Community Members are hit hard by poverty and have no other thing but to be involved in felling of trees, contributing to the clearing of the natural rainforest in the country. PHOTO/ER

While the world is appalled on the decreasing rates of natural rain forests through illegal logging and ‘logging’ by local community members for domestic use purposes; we are faced with the questions as to who gives the permission for the felling of trees, how the timber is used and who audits the revenues from the logging that continues to ravage the once vibrant rain forest in Africa. Let’s read on, discuss and find solutions to bring back the lost glory of African Flora and Fauna...

“In our day, felling of trees for domestic use was not an issue to ask permission for therefore no one should today tell us that we have to be allowed by some authority.” These words were spoken by a senior citizen when we were on a live radio programme talking about the natural resources.

This is the view carried out by many which in many instances carries with it valid argument and implying that the natural resources should there for the benefit of all in the society and or those within the borders of a political jurisdiction. But this argument as valid as I would like to see it misses one important factor; and that is the regulatory legislatures that govern the controlled use and sustainability of the natural resources for the use of future generation without putting at risk the livelihoods of the present.

Deforestation in Africa

It is an undeniable truth that a number of countries in Africa have had a rich ecosystem over the years but which is now faced with depletion. Clearing of the natural rainforest for whatever purposes; has resulted in deadly floods and now making the changes in climate which poses great concerns. By and by, biodiversity is becoming a forgotten word if not already forgotten.

In the context of Africa and countries in the continent rich in natural resources in the extractive industry, forestry and fishing; the clearing of the natural rain forest is attributed to the growing business in the extractive and agricultural industries.

There has been a rush in the extractive and the agricultural industry where massive lands are given out by governments to investors in the mining industry and modern farming industry where deforestation is done to extract Gold, Copper, Cobalt, Uranium and other precious metals and stones or for purposes of feeding livestock.

Zambia and Tanzania comes to close view as the activities are proactively carried out through direct foreign investments. When you fly over the two countries one is shocked at the level of clearing of the natural rain forest. In Tanzania the clearing is caused by the extractive industry and agro-fuels while in Zambia it is caused by the extractive industry, livestock feeds (for the growing beef industry), agro-fuels and charcoal burning for both domestic use and income generation by the local community members. The latter is shared in both countries.

With the said in focus, a number of questions come to mind; one - who benefits from all this, and two; who audits the revenues from the timber harvested when our natural rain forest is cleared – especially by the investors in our countries?

Deforestation and World Statistics

It is recorded that “barely in 40 years the world’s vibrant natural rainforest has been reduced at the rate of 20%.” This injustice against the environment is committed to feed livestock and replacement of the natural with plantations of Eucalyptus and Palm Oil trees in order to produce paper, cosmetics, fuel and false arguments on provisions of employment opportunities for local population.

The other sharp contrast which is also a huge contributor to the lost glory of the once vibrant ecosystem is the charcoal burning by the local communities to meet daily needs resulting from poor developmental infrastructures, imperialistic attitude of the Northern countries, lack of political will and corruption in the poor countries which otherwise are rich in natural wealth.

Copenhagen and Ecological Debt

As we approach the summit for Climate Change in Copenhagen, there’s a need for those who will be attending from Africa and other developing economies in the world whose resources have for so long been looted to make economies in the Northern hemisphere strong to make their points clear.

As the looting continues, our water sources are polluted and environment degraded to irreparable measures. We need to stand and ensure that the ecological debt is dealt with. One question I would like to ask is this; what agenda does my colleagues from Africa and developing countries have as they will attend the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen in a few weeks time?

A Firm Sues Government of Tanzania on Mining Contracts

2009-11-11T14:57:00.002+02:00

By Bernard James

A constitutional petition has been filed in the High Court, seeking to have all the mining contracts entered into by the government without Parliament's approval declared null and avoid, in an effort to curb the plunder of the country's natural resources.

A Dar es Salaam-based environmental and human rights activist, Mr Rugemeleza Nshala, and a company called Mtetezi Limited, have sued the minister for Energy and Minerals and the Attorney General.

They want the court to immediately stop the operations of the holders of special mining licences and mining companies that have signed Mining Development Agreements (MDAs) with the government "because their activities are unconstitutional".

The petitioners claim that the powers conferred on the minister for Energy and Minerals to sign MDAs are unconstitutional, as they interfere with the duties of other ministries, councils, agencies and departments.

The petitioners are challenging the Mining Act No 5 of 1998 that gives the minister powers to sign MDAs on behalf of the government.

They now want the court to declare that all the MDAs signed with the holders of the special mining licences, which were not approved by Parliament in line with the mandatory requirements of articles 63 (3) (a-e) of the Constitution, be scrapped.

The article gives the National Assembly powers to deliberate on and ratify all treaties and agreements to which the United Republic of Tanzania is a party, and lists provisions, which require ratification. It also empowers Parliament to put any questions to any minister concerning public affairs.

The petitioners are accusing the energy minister of granting mining concessions to foreign mining companies of unlawfully, and allocating large areas that were initially owned by villagers and artisanal miners to foreign firms.

They assert that the allocations are responsible for the forceful displacement of millions of agriculturalists, peasants, pastoralists and artisan miners from their lands, in total disregard of their land and property rights enshrined and protected in the Constitution.

The petitioners want the court to order that all the people displaced to pave the way for large-scale mining be resettled on their land and paid compensation.

"We feel that our country's mineral resources are being squandered, as the current exploitation is only benefiting the foreign mining companies and yet the current mining and its taxation legal regime are not only illegal, but also unconstitutional," they argue.

The petitioners are also arguing that the granting of mining concessions to foreign companies through local affiliates under the guise of Section 10 (1) and (2) of the Mining Act No 5 1998, not only grants unconscionable incentives to those firms, but also purports to supplant the laws of the land, and curtail the legislative powers of Parliament.

The section prevents Parliament from passing any law that might in "one way or another interfere with their tax, social and economic obligations that they found at the time they came to invest in the country".

The petitioners argue that "the curtailment of the parliamentary powers is not only wantonly violates Article 13, which calls for equal treatment under the law, but also the entire democratic framework enshrined in the Constitution."

Article 63 (3) (a) to (e) grant Parliament powers to oversee, monitor and supervise the workings and operations of the government, including the ratification of all agreements signed in the name of the United Republic of Tanzania.

"Yet the respondents have never presented any Mining Development Agreement (MDAs) signed with foreign mining companies to Parliament for deliberation, review, ratification or rejection."

The petitioners are also accusing the government of granting "generous and unwise incentives", including tax-holidays, tax exemptions, "unlimited immigration quotas for their so-called experts", and the fuel levy, all of which, they claim, have led to the plunder the country's mineral resources.

To back up their petition, the petitioners are citing the tax-free sale of several mining companies.

These include Lusu gold mine, which was sold by Samax Resources of Canada to Ashanti Goldfield in 1998, at $213 million, the Bulyanhulu gold mine disposed of by Sutton Resources of Canada to Barrick Gold, at $348 million in 1999, and Nyabigena and Nyabirama mines in Tarime district that were sold by East Africa Gold Mine to the Placer Dome at $252 million.

During the hearing, the petitioners say they will demand that the minister and the AG produce in court all the documents on the sale of those assets by the foreign mining companies.

They say they will also to rely heavily on the findings of commission on mining management (the Bomani team) appointed by President Kikwete in 2007.

According to the Bomani report, while the foreign mining companies were raking in millions of dollars from Tanzania�s mineral resources, they paid no income tax and still enjoyed a lot of tax waivers.

The petitioners will show to the court how six foreign mining companies were granted an Excise duty waiver of Sh39.8 billion and Sh59.0 billion in 2006/07 and 2007/08, respectively.

The petitioners also challenge Section 10 (1) and (2) of the Mining Act No. 5 1998, which allows the minister to limit environmental management responsibilities of the holders of special mining licences, the obligations of which are demanded by sectoral environmental legislation and the Environmental Management Act No 20, 2004.

Mr Nshala and the company are also challenging the dispute settlement procedure by way international arbitration, as set out in the Mining Act 1998.

It is their contention that the procedure voids the jurisdiction of domestic courts in determining mining investment disputes, contrary to Article 107 (1) of the Constitution, which vests in the Judiciary the powers to hear and determine all disputes arising in the country.

The petitioners are accusing the government of abdicating its responsibility of policy design, formulation and implementation and becoming an agent of the World Bank, implementing the latter's dictates, including the Strategy for African Mining, 1992, which paved the way for enactment of the Mining Act, No 5, 1998.

South African Firms Muscle in on Zimbabwe's Diamonds

2009-10-28T13:59:00.000+02:00

It is treachery and betraying Brotherhood of Nations when a country which is extremely poor is plundered of her natural Resources leaving her people hungry and desolate. What South Africa is doing against the people of Zimbabwe. It does not matter at this stage whether the Government of the day in South Africa has knowledge of this or not but this is something no one expected to be done against a Country torn with wars of all sorts. But South African 'investors' (infesters!) are known of such activities even in other countries in Africa...

Tuesday’s Special Assignment exposes the blatant disregard for the rule of law and continued plundering of the diamond fields in Eastern Zimbabwe. New evidence suggests that South African firms have muscled in, and are mining there illegally.

“We have nothing to hide. We are going ahead with the exploitation of our resources, and nothing will stop us,” said Zimbabwean Minister of Mines, Obert Mpofu, confidently dismissing reports of atrocities and smuggling from the diamond fields in Eastern Zimbabwe.

Travelling the road to Chiadzwa, his words sound more and hollow. The area holds one of the world’s richest deposits of alluvial diamonds. The gems lie close to the surface of the ground, making them easy to collect by hand. It is hard not notice the “gweja’s,” the Shona term for illegal panners. Group after group of young men, carrying nothing but a plastic bag over their shoulder, head for the diamond fields hoping for a share in its riches. It is at the risk of their lives.

The area is heavily militarized and every few kilometers one is stopped by a security check point, manned by police and soldiers. Only last month, Moreblessing Tirivangani, was beaten to death during a rotation of army units who patrol the area.

A year ago the military killed hundreds of people, and tortured even more, in a brutal clampdown on illegal mining activities. Now soldiers are cashing in on the gems.

“Nearly every soldier that is in Chiadzwa at the moment is involved in panning in one way or the other. They have also formed syndicates so that those panners will get the escort of the military and they continue panning with the protection of the soldiers,” says Farai Maguwu, Director of the Centre for Research and Development, an NGO that has been documenting violations in Chiadzwa.

Many of the diamonds are smuggled into Mozambique . The town of Vila de Manica is only 18 kilometres from the border with Zimbabwe . It is crawling with illegal dealers from countries like Lebanon , Sierra Leone , Guinea , DRC, Nigeria and Israel . Newly painted houses, bristling with barbed wire and CCTV cameras, are guarded by men armed with AK 47s. Every day streams of Zimbabweans arrive to sell their stones, stolen from Chiadzwa. They admit it is with the help of army syndicates and senior government politicians.

The lack of control on the diamond fields of Chiadzwa, extends beyond pillaging by the army. Last month, mining firm African Consolidated Resources plc. (ACR) won a High Court ruling confirming their title to the Marange diamond fields. In 2006, the Zimbabwe government seized the claims from ACR and evicted them from the diamond fields barely a year after they had begun operations. High Court Judge Charles Hungwe ordered the Zimbabwe Minerals Development Corporation (ZMDC)to stop its mining activities and directed the government to restore African Consolidated Resources' right to mine in the area.

ACR has still not been able to gain access to the diamond fields. The Zimbabwe Mineral Development Corporation has signed a shady joint venture with a Mauritian off-shore company, Grandwell Holdings. They are operating under the name Mbada Diamonds. Behind it all is a South African scrap metal company, Reclamation, who is understood to have spearheaded the deal. Any diamonds they trade, will be obtained illegally. Reclamation director, David Kassell said this was inaccurate and refused to comment.

Outraged by ZMDC’s flagrant disregard of the High Court ruling, Andrew Cranswick CEO of African Consolidated Resources said, “their foreign partners are bringing in experts and top machinery, so the foreign partners will rape it for the foreign interests as opposed to the national interests and that is the tragedy and that has to be stopped.”

This comes at a time when Zimbabwe faces the possibility of being banned from tr adi ng in rough diamonds. In July, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme sent a review team to investigate the human rights violations and looting of diamonds from Chiadzwa. The international watchdog on “conflict diamonds” found gross irregularities and recommended that Zimbabwe be suspended until they comply with minimum standards. It is the first time an state government, and not a rebel army, stands accused of “conflict diamonds.” Amidst heated debate, the KPCS is to meet in Nambia on 2 November to decide Zimbabwe ’s fate.

“The government of Zimbabwe until now, has not really disclosed how it conducts its trade in its minerals. It is a very closely guarded secret and that gives room for corruption by senior government officials, by the military bosses who are now in charge of Chiadzwa,” says Farai Maguwu.

The Minister of Mines seems unconcerned. “We are going it as government alone, without their support. We are not going to stop because they have not supported us,” he said.

Special Assignment’s programme “ Zimbabwe ’s Blood Diamonds” will be broadcast on Tuesday 27 October at 8.30 pm on SABC 3.

Vain-Glory and the People's Welfare

2009-10-27T18:07:00.001+02:00

THIS IS HOW I EARN A LIVING! A Youth in Solwezi Town working on a locally made motor to grind maize for the poor in this locality. He is working on a 'make-believe' kind of a machine when he could as well be empowered and do this work at another level. He has taught himself how to repair this brute to make ends meet while his constituency's Member of Parliament lavishes in wealth!

When you look around you in any country in Africa where there’s massive deposits of Natural resources, there is always other types of looting that bypasses our attention; the illegal logging and the local workforce. I have read and was profoundly shocked with the payments and treatments the local workforce is accorded. But in all these our Leaders still stand ‘head tall’ calling such demeaning investments a ‘success!’ One question I would like to ask though; Who Audits the revenues from massive natural rain forests cleared by the investors in the Extractive Industries in our Countries? As you read this, I hope this will lead us into more query to verify what is revealed here...

“Chambishi would have not reopened if ‘mad’ man took over from Levi!” So read the headline on one of the issues on the Post Newspapers in the week. This was supposedly said by the republican president of Zambia, Rupiah Banda.

This is true to some extent. Principally, Chambishi was reopened to answer to the needs of the local people and Zambians from other parts of the country that were employed and were at risk of losing even the little they earned from their ‘jobs’ at the smelter.

Vain Glory

It was a good thing and a matter to be highlighted, even by the Head of State and all would have rallied behind him for applause if the 600 people were really making a living from the supposed jobs they went back to.

Every one of us was proud to hear the President say that with un-minced words that Chambishi copper smelter will employ 600 people. The 600 people have already been employed and they are getting a gross monthly payment of 540,000/- Zambian Kwacha per month inclusive of housing allowance and overtime.

In simple arithmetic, if you multiply 540,000/- by 600 employees times 12 months you find that Non Ferrous Company of Africa (NFCA) from China in collaboration with Zambia Consolidated Copper Mining (ZCCM) is spending 3, 888,000,000 Zambian Kwacha, which is equivalent to USD 845,000 at the current exchange rate.

The current PAYE threshold is 800,000 Zambian Kwacha meaning all the 600 employees are not contributing to the national treasury.

NFCA has capacity to produce 150,000 metric tons of Copper blisters which is worth USD 900,000,000 at the current copper price of USD 6,000 per metric ton. So the wage bill is 0.093% of gross income and the government is ‘bragging’ that we have investors.

The need to Review Policies

It is better for the government to go back and review all the policies governing the extractive industry and come up with a long lasting solution for the benefit of the Zambian People rather than ‘siding’ with the investors.

In a number of instances, we have heard of how much Copper goes out and other developments in home countries of the investors in Zambia and other parts of Africa. Recently, we were faced by a hard reality that there is a Konkola University in India, taking after the name of the Copper mining company in Chingola where the world’s second largest open pit mining is hosted – Nchanga.

This is what our countries in Africa must put up with. This is what Zambia has to put up with.

Zambia is proud of being the country in which the second largest open pit mining is hosted after Chile, while India boasts of a higher learning institution where the present generation and the generations to come with get knowledge and come to enslave Zambians and loot more!

Demand Scrutiny

It is time for Zambians and the sitting government to open floor for the citizenry – those with expertise and patriotic to scrutinise how much the government has received through Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and tell the nation how much money in tax NCFA have paid so far.

While the world knows Zambia by the production of Copper; it also said by the experts that the copper blister which is processed and exported by the smelter contains 0.4% Gold. Therefore, this means that each ton of copper exported there is 4kg of Gold worth USD 92,000 more than the price of a ton of copper.

All these are matters that need to be attended to without wasting time. If it be true that the investors in the Copper mining are also getting Gold; then it is time for the government to hasten in collaboration with the ministry having oversight on Copper mining issues to look into this matter.

It is very easy for the government to tell us in Africa that ‘these’ are lies but fall short to prove to the citizenry beyond any reasonable doubt that these things that we hear and some we know through discussions with stakeholders, are indeed lies!

While a number of Jaguar and other luxury cars regular Zambian roads, the question is “who really benefits from the loot and at whose expense?

Does Africa Have Real Political Leaders?

2009-10-23T10:01:00.003+02:00

IT IS HEAVY! On your way to the Copperbelt the road sides are littered with big sacks of charcoal. The two women tormented with the weight of the charcoal sack and children on their backs have nothing to do but to do this work in the sun. The health and the welfare of the children smouldering in the sun as 'co-partners' in pursuit of a livelihood is not any near to the concerns of the politicians. all they care about is bickering.

The political scene in a number of African Countries does not give hope for any maturity anytime soon, let alone any hope of citizen-cantered political agenda.
I have listened, read and watched politicians in a number of African countries doing nothing but trading insults and belittling their political opponent anytime one politician have a platform to speak. What has amazed me the most is the fact that even Church is not a holy place for politicians in Africa.

Belittling Political Opponents

There is a tendency among our political leaders to play the hide and seek game while in the light of day playing the ‘better-than-though’ game. But in the past few weeks, this game has been over-played in the Zambian political arena.
I was shocked to read on the dailies a week ago in bold letters on front page, where one politician is likened to “a Bag of Mealy Meal!” I do not know how possible this is in a country where most of us know that people are peaceful.
At times when you think of what has taken place in this country in the last four months, it sounds like a big joke. But the truth is; it is true!
When the president was addressing the heads of Churches at the official opening of the 28th General Conference organised by the Council of Churches in Zambia – CCZ, he was quoted saying how he was disappointed by media and other political leaders attempting to drag him into ‘vanity.’

“I am disappointed that both the media and politicians from other parties always ‘drag’ me in the mud of their bad language and name calling!” Is this true or are these birds of the same feather? It only takes someone who is so dumb to see how bad the political situation has turned in Zambia and there might be a reason for citizens to start to get worried – as surveys show already.

It is so embarrassing when our leaders decide to start calling their fellow politicians names using unpalatable language even before children.

Doctors for a Cow and Non For Humans

A few months ago Zambia as a country went through depressive times when nurses went on strike in demand of pay rise and good working conditions. During this time, a number of things were said including pointing accusing fingers to other politicians to have purportedly; started it all “for political gain.” Everything is politics in Africa!

When trying to get the solution on the demands – sincere quest of the nurses to have their work conditions improved some of the politicians decided to take the confusion of the moment to start threatening the nurses of losing their jobs if they never went back to work.

But things took a 360° when the president of the United Republic of Tanzania, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete came for the official opening of the trade fair in Ndola early this year. The government of Zambia rewarded him by giving him a fertilised cow with only a few months to give birth to a calf.

The cow was escorted by a number (some people say 5 Doctors besides security and a track to transport the cow!) of doctors and security guards when in the hospitals the sick went without anyone to attend to them. I wonder whether this is a sign of heartlessness or just being unpatriotic and un-leader like!

I Want to Marry MY Mother!

2009-10-22T12:37:00.004+02:00

It is not usual for me to write on issues that 'crazy' and deluded people do for fun but this one took me for a big surprise, took me to the path of anger and confusion. Where are we leading? On the African soil, a number of shocking events and inhuman actions have been reported but I have never heard of anything of this nature. A husband's responsibility to the beautiful bride he intends to spend his life with is to pay them to the full. This is what I read from the Bible and this is what my African traditions tell me. Taking a child to school does not mean that you exploit them sexually nor being taken to school by one's mother and the fact that a father never accomplished his promise to his in-laws entitle a son to have a carnal knowledge of her mother. I am shocked and will live to marvel at human beings' licentiousness and greed. Let’s read this and discuss it...

A Zimbabwean woman and her son have done the unthinkable – they have fallen in love with one another. And now they want to marry since the mom, Betty Mbereko from Mwenezi in Masvingo, is six months pregnant and expecting her son’s child.
Mbereko (40), who was widowed 12 years ago, has been cohabiting with her first child, Farai Mbereko (23). She confirms that she is six months pregnant and that she has decided it is better to “marry” her son because she does not want to marry her late husband’s young brothers, whom she says are coveting her.

Betty stunned a village court last week when she said the affair with her son had begun three years earlier. She said after spending a lot of money sending Farai to school following the death of her husband, she felt she had a right to his money and no other woman was entitled to it. “Look, I strove alone to send my son to school and no one helped me. Now you see that my son is working and you accuse me of doing something wrong. “Let me enjoy the products of my sweat,” she told the village court.
Farai said he was more than prepared to marry his mother and would pay off the ilobola balance his father had left unpaid to his grandparents.

“I know my father died before he finished paying the bride price and I am prepared to pay it off,” he said. “It is better to publicise what is happening because people should know that I am the one who made my mother pregnant. Otherwise they will accuse her of promiscuity.”

But local headman Nathan Muputirwa says: “We cannot allow this to happen in our village, mashura chaiwo aya, (This is a bad omen indeed). In the past they would have to be killed but today we cannot do it because we are afraid of the police.” He warned them to break off their marriage or leave his village. They chose the latter and have left the village for an unknown destination.

This is Reality! It is Money and NOT People's Welfare - 1

2009-09-24T13:56:00.015+02:00

I have been struggling what to do with the photos I took several Months ago when I visited Mufulira and have now come to a conclusion that it does not hurt to place these witnesses for all to see. On this edition, I have decided to bring some pictorials from my photo archives taken from different places once in a month. this is the first in the series...

How insecure can our communities in the mining areas be? The Government must do something to rescue the lives of the next generation as well as the present.

This is the infrastructure in Mufulira town. The home of the former Mufulira Wanderers! an assistant corporate social responsibility officer at Mopani said that, "Mopani gives the municipal council money; actually we give the government money and road maintenance is the government's responsibility. They are just sitting there looking at the roads continuing to be bad. I wonder where all the money goes but Mopani can do nothing about the roads as it gives money to the government."

This is how close everything is to the local community quarters! Mopani is said to be "owned by an Asian man living in the UK but have companies in in India, UK and Australia. A lot of copper leaves our country making other countries poor. workers here are not paid well even when they get sick; actually when you fall sick as a result of chemical reaction and the costs are high - you get fired!"

"The World's second Largest open mining pit after Chile" so it is said but who benefits?

The heap above is Copper Ore. The cloudy mist is the chemical sprinkles that separate the pure Copper and rubble. All this is in Butondo Area in Mufulira constituency where it is reported that people just die and Doctors always give false reports. "We have had cases where people just die. whenever we press on for a post-mortem; doctors always give a false report.

I need help here; what does the law say about hazardous chemicals and residential areas. How far should residential areas be from such ponds? If the Government of Zambia has allowed the Police force personnel to live that close to the pond; is there something that they are protecting? What about the little ones who know nothing?

Looking through the gap between the two houses, you see the RAFFINATE POND this is where the chemical used to sieve Copper. This is a dangerous pond but with the lazy governments in Africa, residential area is not even 15 metres away! I wonder what the world bodies looking into hazardous chemicals think about this. To make things worse; it is the police force staff living here... Where is the government?

When in Butondo village in Mufulira, I wondered what kind of life the local community members live. Looking at the metal sealed with used drum; 'eaten' by the chemicals I could not think of anything but echo the words said by one traditional leader, "The government of the day regards members of the communities around the mining areas as irrelevant. This means each one of us, including means nothing to the government of the day!"

On the Pursuit for Justice for All

2009-09-23T15:17:00.007+02:00

Religious Leaders in Katoma Village in Geita District - Mwanza

When the strategies to follow up what exactly happened at Bulyanhulu where Barrick Gold Corporation operates, what is happening in North Mara, Buzwagi and Geita Where AngloGold Ashanti operates there were a number of challenges and many more to come. But we believe in solidarity. I am really proud that the banner for Truth and Justice for All is flying High. How we long to see a Tanzania and parts of the world rich in Natural resources turn into havens of peace and plenty for their people. Read this Press from South Africa!

The multinational corporations are at it again! This time not just for gross and scandalous human rights abuses but also causing death of people especially women and children in the North Mara and Geita regions of Tanzania.

This was revealed by two recent studies, “A Golden Opportunity? How Tanzania is failing to benefit from gold mining” and “Levels of Heavy Metals and Cyanide in Soil, Sediment and Water from the Vicinity of North Mara Gold Mine in Tarime District, Tanzania”. The studies were commissioned by three faith-based organizations; Christian council of Tanzania (CCT), the National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA) and Tanzania Episcopal Conference(TEC).

A high level delegation of interfaith leaders led by His Grace Archbishop Paul Ruzoka, visiting South Africa on a learning mission presented the report to His Grace Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, President and Founder of African Monitor in Cape Town on Monday.

The report reveals that Tanzania has lost at least $265.5million in recent years as a result of an excessively low royalty rate, government tax concessions that allow companies to avoid paying corporation tax and also through tax evasion by some companies. Even more seriously, unethical business practices that have been used by these multinational corporations continue to inflict Cyanide contamination of drinking water, rivers, farming and grazing land.

According to the report, the levels of Cyanide and heavy metals leaking from the nearby waste rock piles and tailing dam, are far more than the World Health Organisation (WHO), USA and Tanzanian Regulating Bodies (TZA and EPA) set targets of permissible Cyanide. The study revealed that that both heavy metals through Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) and Cyanide were leaking from waste rock piles and tailing dam, respectively.

As a consequence, people living in the study area are in serious danger of suffering and dying from effects of pollution from heavy metals and Cyanide. For instance, water samples taken from River Tighite indicate that Ni, Pb, and Cr, were 260, 168 and 14 times higher respectively, this year than was observed in the year 2002. This has serious implications for humans and other living organisms in the area.

Of the six major gold mining companies operating in Tanzania, the Canadian based Barrick Gold Corporation and the South African based AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) are responsible for the displacement, spillage of Cyanide and other heavy metals in the mining regions of Geita and North Mara.

“Gold mining in Tanzania remains shrouded in secrecy. Parliament has never formally seen any of the mining contracts signed by the government with the mining companies. The recent contract for Barrick’s new Buzwagi mine has been widely viewed in Tanzania only because it was leaked to the media. The agreement signed in October 2007 by the government with AGA for its Geita mine also remains a secret”, says His Grace Bishop Dr. Valentine Mokiwa (Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Tanzania and President of the All Africa Conference of Churches).

“The communities in these areas have also been excluded in decision-making in awarding mining contracts and the use of land which they own and occupy. The failure of government to involve and protect the people from these corporations clearly demonstrates a serious lack of will and commitment to put their people first and foremost,” he adds.

Archbishop Ndungane reiterates; “We cannot allow multinational corporations to hide behind business contracts that undermine human life and dignity. All humans are created equally before God and it is the responsibility of everyone, religious leaders included, to ensure that the sanctity of life is upheld throughout the world. We don’t condemn businesses but the manner in which they conduct themselves,” he adds.

During the past few months a number of death cases reported including women and children has increased due to consumption of polluted water and other environmentally related hazards in North Mara.

“The people in these communities will continue to die as the level of acid in their bodies increases due to inhalation, drinking contaminated water and usage of soils contaminated by Cyanide and heavy metals,” Sheik Mohamed, the Deputy Secretary of BAKWATA expressed.

Following the release of this shocking and heart-rending report, the Interfaith Committee on Economic Justice and Integrity of Creation is in a process of finalizing a Commission of Enquiry comprising of Lawyers, Doctors, Environmentalists and Economists who will expedite the resolution of this matter. The report has also been presented to the Parliament of Tanzania and remains to be seen whether drastic measures will be taken to save these communities.

The delegation urges the South African and other SADC governments, businesses and other stakeholders particularly in the mining industry to abide to the principles of good business ethics. This was stressed strongly by His Grace Archbishop Ndungane, who underscored the need for the government of Tanzania to put the wellbeing of the people first and foremost.

It is Time to Act: let's speak for the poor and Marginalised

2009-08-28T08:07:00.002+02:00

Rev. Andrew Chulu of the United Church of Zambia

It is time for the Church to act... so said one of the Religious Leaders in the North-Western part of Zambia where infrastructure, social utilities and social amenities are in a bad shape.

People in the Copper belt live in deplorable conditions in the midst of plenty in terms of deposits of Copper and Gold. Irrespective of the many concerns raised by the locals, the government is said to “...remain mum and unconcerned.”

Alongside with the concerns on the government keeping quiet the religious Leaders feel that the programme that Council of churches in Zambia have embarked on to empower citizens from the grassroots upwards has come at the right time.

This move and the concentration on empowering the people and engaging the government on policy issues are looked at as a service that will make sense for the next generation. “What you (CCZ) are doing now and what we will do together as member Churches should be a firm foundation for the next generation.”

The people of Zambia in the copper rich areas are now upbeat and looking forward to the Church and other religious bodies to stand help them sound their voices. Despite the escalating poverty levels, there is also a great knowledge deficit. People are ignorant of what policies are in place to ensure equity in distribution of profits from Zambian rich fields.

In the view of the locals in the copper belt, the government regards the locals as irrelevant. “They come to our villages, take land without consulting with us or considering our livelihoods. The decisions are made by the elite and ours is to obey. Even when it means that we live our homes and heritage.

Looking at the general concept of the locals in the copper rich areas, an average man thinks that their land has been sold to the investors and thus gives the right to the same to toss them around.

On an interesting note, the Religious Members in the Churches under the Council of Churches in Zambia are also raising their voices on the audit of the Gold that has been reported to be extracted in the same pits where Copper is extracted. In reality this has never seen the light of the day in terms of proper auditing.

Concerns have also been raised on weak policies and the way the government treats the investors at the expense of her people. This comes at a point when there are a number of new investment ventures in the extractive industry from the Far East countries. But then the question that is being posed by the local religious Leaders is, “New investment for whose benefit?”

Council of Churches in Zambia aims at empowering Zambian people from grassroots level up with knowledge that will enable them engage the government in dialogue that is aimed at ensuring that the natural resources are used to boost economy and social status of the people.

Lest We Forget...

2009-08-28T07:38:00.003+02:00

As part of our Bicentennial observances TIME asked leaders of nations round the world to address the American people through the pages of TIME on how they view the U.S. and what they hope, and expect, from the nation in the years ahead. This message from Tanzania's President Julius K. Nyerere is the fourth in a series.

America is a society whose faults are the more glaring because of its admirable openness, because of the principles on which the nation was founded and because of the power which comes from its wealth and its size. It is an inspiration, and a warning, to the world. Poor nations aspire to emulate it, or else they fear it—and sometimes both.

For America is judged by the standards set out in imperishable language in the Declaration of Independence of 1776—which is one of the greatest documents of all time. And America now has a degree of wealth and power which could enable the ideals of its founding fathers to be translated into reality. It should now be possible for all Americans to live in dignity in a society which gives to all its citizens equal freedom and security and equal rights and responsibilities. Certainly, it should now be possible for America to "observe good faith and justice toward all nations" without having to fear for its own independence.

The continual struggle of Americans for the implementation of these principles within America, regardless of race or economic status, is a matter of history and contemporary politics. Much progress has been made over the past 200 years. In particular the Federal Government is now committed to fighting racial discrimination within the U.S. by laws, administrative acts and education. This we recognize; it is vital to the respect accorded to America.

But the gap between the principles and the potential on the one hand and the reality on the other is still frighteningly wide, even within America. Americans of non-European descent are still having to struggle to achieve for themselves their full rights as American citizens, equal with all others. Extreme poverty, and even hunger, exist among a sizable minority of American people. There appears to be almost a breakdown of many of the public and communal services which are vital to civilized life and in respect of which we would expect America to be an example to the rest of struggling humanity.

So countries like mine look at America in its Bicentennial year with admiration and respect, yet a feeling of disappointment for opportunities lost. But we also look at America with fear because of the use to which America's great power is often put, and the extent to which American principles have been flouted in the international exercise of American power.

Americans fought a war for their independence. They fought a civil war to maintain their unity despite the diverse social and cultural origins of Americans. The poor and oppressed of the world therefore expect Americans to understand and support the struggles of other peoples to be free and united, even if freedom and unity cannot be won peacefully. We expect that America will be the last nation, not the first, to try to thwart, pervert or destroy the real independence of other nations.

Instead, during the 15 years of our own national existence, we in Tanzania have witnessed American military power being used in an attempt to crush the national liberation struggles of Viet Nam and Cambodia. In some Latin American countries we have seen American economic power being used to frustrate the democratic will of the people about their own form of government. We have felt the effects of America's direct and indirect, but very powerful, support for the racist and colonialist forces of southern Africa. And we have seen American power time and again being used to fight freedom on the plea that it is fighting Communism.

Further, as poor nations like Tanzania struggle for those structural changes in the world economic system which are essential if our own efforts for development are not to be nullified, we find that American economic might is ranged on the other side—that is, on the side of our continued exploitation. Only minor reforms, or economic aid, are offered; sometimes even these are made conditional upon what America regards as our good political behavior in the United Nations and elsewhere. So the poor nations fear America and we struggle against America, even while we admire the great principles of America and her people's achievements.

We watch with respect, sympathy and anxiety—and sometimes almost with despair—as Americans endeavor to cope with the political and moral results of their own wealth-creating economic system, and to give international meaning to the principles laid down by the founding fathers of their nation.

For it is this one thing, above all, that really gives hope to the world. There are Americans of all colors and creeds who continue to struggle for equality and justice within America for all its peoples. There were Americans who used the time given by the dogged resistance of the Indochinese peoples in order to reassert the principles of democracy and equality and to oppose American imperialism in Southeast Asia. It was Americans who revealed, and who opposed, what was being done by their nation in Chile. And Americans are now working to get American support ranged on the side of national freedom and human equality in southern Africa.

Americans have created a power which is frequently abused internally and externally. But Americans continue to struggle against these abuses and for the survival of the universal principles enunciated in 1776. There is therefore still hope that America's great power will be used for human beings everywhere, rather than simply for the preservation and creation of American national wealth.

From Tanzania we salute America on its 200th anniversary. We send our good wishes for a future of American cooperation with the rest of the world on the basis of freedom, equality and justice, for all men and all nations

The Isle of Peace, Home of the Homeless

2009-08-14T11:31:00.004+02:00

It is ironical in our ears when the world praises Tanzania to be the isle of peace. What is the benefit of outward peace when there is NO peace within? Tanzanian Government must try the best to maintain peace among her peoples. You cannot be proud as a country and claim to be sovereign when all we see is slavery at high places. The narrative below comes from a group fighting for justice among the Maasai community in Serengeti. Read and advise what can be done...

The Maasai community living adjacent to the Serengeti National Park have been sent parking forcefully to pave way for Hunting Company from the United Arabs Emirates.
Following the eviction of the Maasai community members from Loliondo villages women were raped; children disappeared into Serengeti and killed by the wildlife, while houses and property were set ablaze by armed soldiers to protect the company.

Traditionally the Maasais they depends on livestock for their survival, this minority group have been protecting wildlife and the greater Serengeti and Maasai Mara ecosystem for many centuries and enormous species of wildlife are found near their homes.

Endangered by own conservatory work

The price of their work of conservation is putting them under Government force
to get out of their land to give a land for Arabs Hunting Company (OBC). Traditionally the livestock and wildlife are co-existing; but the Government of Tanzania decided to evict these people to make land free for hunting.

Since 1992, the Tanzania Government allocated Loliondo villages as a hunting block to Arabs Company from UAE. It’s almost 17 years when the hunting process started. In the beginning of last year 2008, there was a serious discussion between the investor from, Government of Tanzania and Local Maasai people.

The discussion was to create an exclusive hunting area for Arabs Company, in the course of this discussion the Arabs with Government backing; manipulated local leaders from the Maasai community to enter into the shoddy business contract between the Hunting Company and villages.

On 4th July, 2009, the Government at Regional and District levels commissioned the armed Filed Force Unit (Anti riot police) to undertake operation that and remove the Maasai people out of their land.

The eviction operation saw more than 400 house burnt, young livestock killed, and 600 people homeless and without food and 40,000 heads of cattle in the bushes.
In the operation women were raped, other had miscarriages, children disappeared into Serengeti National park and killed by wild animal while the young men were serious beaten and the FFU men used live ammunitions to disperse livestock into the forest and many families lost their livestock and properties.

Testimony of the raped woman

“I was running out of my house, which was set ablaze following my child who was running to the bush; two armed men chased me and force me to lie down. Six men followed them and all raped me! There many other girls and women who were raped inside their houses during the operation. The armed soldiers told us to remove our belongings from the houses at the same time followed us inside and rape us”

State of Emergency

Today people don’t have food and water, shelter and security. Before the operation the Government and the International food relief agencies provided food relief to these people to address a serious food shortage due to drought that hitting Africa.

The evicted local Maasai people are trying to respond for the eviction but it’s difficult for them to sustain armed Government soldiers. The local people are forced by the situation to sell their cattle to get food but the prices for their livestock are low due to drought and lack of pastures. Hundreds of people and livestock will perish out if immediate international action is not put in place.

State Façade

In 15 July, 2009 the deputy Minister for Natural Resource and Tourism with the Member of Parliament of Ngorongoro District visited to Loliondo to assess the impact of ongoing social injustice.
The Minister told the public meeting that she “does not know who commissioned the armed soldiers to do the operation” and ordered “the operation to stop.”
The following days the evictees went back to their original areas; but the armed soldiers burnt again the Maasai houses, beaten and chased the people out of the area. Young people were forced to pull heavy logs while being physically assaulted.

The local Maasai and other lobbying groups failed to understand the force behind the eviction. But it’s obvious clear that UAE Company is financing the process of the eviction. Local informants and investigators said the UAE Company is paying armed soldier and Local Government officials at the District and Regional levels cash amounting to US Dollars 400 per day to evict the Maasai people.

The local journalists were also on the pay roll of the hunting company from UAE Company and were neither now publishing nor providing the information to the public. The Maasai who complain for the effect of operation were threatened by the police not talk. However; the local Maasai with lobbying groups managed to give out the information to the public as well to the international levels.

Silenced not to speak

After a strong publicity done by the community; CSOs and the media practitioners at the national level; the Regional Commissioner (RC) of Arusha Mr Isodori Shirima, was ordered by the Government officials at the National level to silence the people and try to stop the public outcry.
The RC flew to UAE camp and stayed there for the whole day afraid to meeting the local Maasai people but he ordered the District Commission Mr Elias Wawalali to meet with local leaders.

Arrogant Government

In the meeting the local Maasai leaders raised their concerns for the eviction and operation. The DC told them that, “what was done by the Government was not an intended operation. The Government may undertake another serious operation if you are not giving out the land to UAE Company. The Government will start wildlife park area that will restrict pastoralism.”

Hearts on Shelves

2009-08-14T10:37:00.004+02:00

When cases of people being buried alive arise in our countries the immediate question that we ask is; where are our Leaders? But the most sober question that many people would pose is whether the security personnel have any sanity at all? Mining companies are getting bold as days go by but our leaders have decided to keep mum.

In Tanzania we recall the Bulyanhulu case and Barrick and the Tanzanian government are still in denial. As we read the Press Statement below, let us join hands and never relenting until justice comes in our land – mother Africa...

NCOM Press statement

We members of the National Coalition on Mining (NCOM) from Chirano, Obuasi, Kenyasi, New Abirim, Bibiani, New Atuabo near Tarkwa, Prestea, Mpatuom, and Accra attending its normal rotation meeting held August 13th, 2009 at Accra, Ghana wish to unequivocally condemn AngloGold-Ashanti (AGA) for allegedly burying alive 40 small-scale miners (galamseyers) at Blacks Pit near Obuasi, Tom Collins one of the abandon pits

On Tuesday August 11th, 2009, we learnt with shock and deep regret that the security personnel of AngloGold-Ashanti allegedly decided to burry alive 40 small-scale miners at one of the company’s abandoned pits at Tom Collins also known as (Blacks Pit) near Obuasi the Municipal capital in Ashanti Region of Ghana. We view the action of AngloGold-Ashanti as barbaric, high-handedness, torture and attempted murder of citizens.

The sad incident occurred when the small scale miners were in the pit trying to eke a living. While in the hole scooping earth in search of gold, the security personnel of AngloGold allegedly used a bulldozer to cover the tunnel. It took persuasion of some members of the community to get the security personnel of the company to open up the tunnel.

This incident reminds the Coalition of the general attitude of AngloGold-Ashanti in particular and large-scale mining companies in general to small-scale miners. This unfortunate incident and many others highlight the risks small-scale miners face as they have to take even more difficult and desperate measures to eke a living.

The propaganda that seeks to criminalise them is unhelpful except that it makes the big players such as AngloGold Ashanti play a game of good guys and bad guys in the media. This propaganda goes back to the days when companies such as Ashanti Goldfields, with the active support of the colonial government, expropriated citizens’ land in exchange for derisory payments.

The incident also highlights the very contradictory posture AngloGold-Ashanti and large-scale mining companies have towards small-scale miners. On the one hand, the large-scale companies profess to want to “help” small-scale miners while denying them access to mineral-rich sites.

In Obuasi and its environs for example, much of the agricultural lands and the potential sites for small-scale mining is occupied by AngloGold-Ashanti. All over the mining areas numerous small-scale miners have been pushed out of business by a strategy which is really about the protection of the “legal rights” and commercial interest of large scale miners while pious noises are simultaneously made about addressing the aspirations of small-scale informal miners.

The use this occasion to call on government once again to develop the small scale mining sector as strategic response to youth and rural unemployment.

It is NOT an Exeggeration

2009-07-23T09:07:00.005+02:00

It looks very awkward at times when we talk about atrocities committed by Barrick Gold Corporation in the communities they operate. A lot of people think that people exaggerate when reports have it that Barrick Gold Corporation is poor on CSR and putting more lives in danger. It does not just happen in Tanzania but in Australia and other places. We need to learn from our friends who are facing the same case in the other parts of the world. A few people determined to rescue their land can defeat a legion, no matter how powerful…

Neville Chappy Williams, who has consistently opposed the open-pit mine at Lake Cowal in the middle of the Murray-Darling Basin, has delivered documents to the Deputy Canadian High Commissioner, Mr René Cremonese,
and the Minerals Council of Australia in Canberra as part of the Global Day of Action against open-pit mining.

Neville Chappy Williams is a Traditional Owner of Lake Cowal and has fought many court cases against mining at Lake Cowal.

“It is my sacred duty to protect Lake Cowal and our ancient cultural heritage. We will never give up. I will fight to the bitter end.” Currently, he has halted the proposed expansion of the gold mine in Barrick v Williams in the NSW Court of Appeal.

“The Lake Cowal gold mine operated by Barrick Gold from Toronto, Canada is desecrating our sacred heartland of the Wiradjuri between the Kalara/Lachlan and the Murrumbidgee rivers in central west New South Wales.

Lake Cowal is an ephemeral lake and also a wetland of international significance – home and breeding ground to thousands of water birds when full, including numerous endangered species.

“The open-pit cuts into the ancient lake bed and already there have been at least twenty landslides as the pitwall collapses, at times covering blast holes full of explosives and endangering workers’ lives.”

“Barrick is importing 6090 tonnes of sodium cyanide into the floodplain of Lake Cowal and the Kalara/Lachlan river, which becomes an inland sea during major flooding.”

“We have even been to Barrick’s AGMs and to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to stop this madness. But the governments seem hand in glove with the mining company.” Neville Chappy Williams concludes.

North Mara Saga: News from the ground II (Verbatim)

2009-07-10T15:53:00.000+02:00

In the midst of the closure calls on North Mara Barrick Gold Corporation’s site, a number of incidents are reported and the situation in the North Mara region is appalling. Here’s another testimonial from the ground…

Dear Partners and Colleagues,

Greetings from Musoma.

Let me take this opportunity to update you with what have happened of recent and proposed way forward.

In late June I was supposed to meet the Parliamentary committee on environment and natural resources headed by Hon Job Ndugai. I could not make it die to vehicle breakdown in Shinyanga. I did, however, use the Foundation for Civil Society Bunge exhibition to meet some MPs on North Mara saga. I sought audience with the PM (a proposal put forward to me by the Hon. Dr Wanyancha, the Serengeti MP upon viewing the dvd on the incidence and reactions from the wananchi). However, it was advised that since the matter was going to be probed by the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Environment we should meet the committee in Musoma or Tarime when they come.

TARIME Presentation:

On Sunday July 5th, 2009 we got a call from PINGOs official who was in Dodoma requesting us to meet Hon Ndugai as he needed to establishing links with people on the ground. We communicated with his Committee secretary Mr Michael Kadebe for appointment. Later, upon their arrival in Musoma, we presented a DVD and a Tigite River report to Hon. Ndugai, Hon. Charles Mwera (MP for Tarime), Hon. Ngeleja and Hon. Burian and while preparing to go to Tarime I received a call from Hon Ndugai who requested me to prepare a 30 minutes presentation to the members of his committee and the energy and mineral committee members in Tarime. We prepared to meet the MPs and the Ministers (Hon. Aisha Kigoda; Hon. Ngeleja and Hon. Burian) on Monday 6th July 2009.

Matters arising during the Tarime meeting

The first presentation was done by Eng. Baya, the MD of NEMC. In his presentation, he stressed that the pH is not the only criterion for deciding whether the water was safe for domestic and livestock consumption. The official from Lake Victoria Basin Office (LVBO) had tough time when he was asked on the reasons for allowing Barrick North Mara to drain its water into Tigithe River. He was asked if he was ready to be responsible if the water was found unfit for human consumption.

Our presentation followed Baya's and gave an account of the incidence and how we have responded to the issue. The samples taken and the results information were briefly given. Main questions were 1. Why did Foundation HELP decide to involve religious leaders instead of govt officials (Hon. Burian etc). 2. Have we conducted toxicology tests to determine whether the water was the source of the ailments that has been reported in the area and what was our response to the situation. The answers were obvious and in response to Dr Mashimba's (question our recommendation was enough to silence them.

One evident thing is that no govt agency (regional medical officer), Chief Chemist, NEMC or LVBO had scientific data to give to the committee. The Minister of Energy and Minerals requested us to join in the tour to Kibasuka and Matongo.

Our recommendations were undertaking independent environmental audit (an idea supported by Hon. Daniel Nsanzugwanko, Deputy Chair-Mineral and energy committee); independent study to determine levels of heavy metals in plants, animals and humans in the area; alternative water for livestock and humans; environmental management and control programs and rehabilitation programs.

Kibasuka meeting

According to the Kibasuka Ward Councillor 43 (24 men and 19 women) people have died since May 2009 until early July. We found 2 more deaths of people making the figures to rise to 45 people. Up to now 102 people are seriously sick in the ward suffering from what was named 'Tigithe water-caused diseases'. In terms of livestock, 401 cows, 523 goats, 185 sheep, 63 donkeys and 227 dogs have lost life during this time.

Matongo visit

The committee visited Matongo Ward where there were cries from the community on the injustices done by the mine to the community including killings of innocent people and pollution in the area. The Minister of Minerals and energy had hard time at Matongo to give satisfactory answers to the community members.

Against my will (was in one vehicle with Hon Ngeleja) I visited the mine where Barrick had a presentation to make. There was whole slide on misinformation which elaborated on how this incidence has been reported and had Evans' photo taken from his blog. The presentation had nothing significant to convince the committee as when asked to confirm whether the water on Tigite was safe and clean so that it can be put on record the person in charge of environment declined to give any comment.

Role of the Media

Barrick Tanzania had their own fleet of journalists from Dar, Tarime and Mwanza. These included (Names withheld but will be availed on demand). These were paid by Teweli Teweli. The mentality of bribing the media people needs to be worked out by having a clear media strategy to follow up this matter.

We managed to get a few dignified and patriotic journalists who stand for what journalism is all about and have written on this matter in the newspapers against their colleagues who have been blaming them for not helping Barrick at a fee!

Wrap-up meeting

We could not be allowed to be in the meeting but details of what transpired will be known soon after meeting one of our insiders in the meeting.

Africa: Governance & Accountability Challenges

2009-07-03T11:56:00.000+02:00

The PWYP Africa Coordinator Marie-Ange presenting during the Launch

The Launch of Publish What You Pay in Zambia

It is an undisputed truth that Africa as a continent is endowed with massive reserves of natural resources but this truth is crowded by the sad truth that the same continent is rocked by poverty the world has never seen before.

The state of issues in our continent has made a number of people and or organisations come up with different strategies to ensure that Africa reclaims her glory, which has always been there but marred by the economic hit-man’s strategy. So we saw the launch of Publish What You Pay – PWYP Zambian Chapter.

It was interesting to note that when human beings and all the living creatures came into being the creator made sure that there was enough to sustain life. This was done by way of making sure that mother earth had enough to support the inhabitants thereon.

It was done by creating massive deposits of all sorts of natural wealth in its entire diversified manner. Mankind was neither meant to go without food nor to live a life that is encroached by abject poverty resulting in sorrow and mourning as African children fight for their rightful place in the world.

Good Strategies, unbalanced beginning

A number of actors have come up with seemingly good plans but have fallen short of reaching the desired goal due to rampant destructive bureaucracy around development in Africa. We have heard and known of the way a number of developed countries have used the money power to ensure that people who will favour their interests in our countries.

I hope we have not forgotten how the third phase government in Tanzania was quoted by a number of media houses in relationship to the Canadian multinational investment in the in the extractive industry in Tanzania. “Our man has been sworn in the office… now the Bulyanhulu file will move!”

Even at the launching of such good strategies as the PWYP, you hear the voices of concern on whether these will be affected and made operational in a local context to the benefit of the citizens of the land.

On this particular launch, the concern was raised on the negative picture the governments in Africa have evidenced on the discussion surrounding the extractive industries transparency initiative (EITI).

It was a shared concern on the effectiveness of the council (s) of EITI in individual countries’ when the ministries handling the management of natural resources (ministries of minerals, in particular) does not show openness even in the way the invitations are sent out to key stakeholders.

In the Zambian case, a number of council members do not even know what EITI is all about. This was blamed on the fact that the ministry of minerals gave notice of the existence of such initiative to key stakeholders “a day before the meeting that was to discuss EITI.”

Now this attitude of our leaders must stop. These initiatives are not meant for personal use but for corporate and societal use to create a better world, which I believe is every man, woman, boy and girls longing. Selfishness on sharing information should be seen by our leaders as a destructive tool that works even against them.

Our policy makers should know better that failure to share such information; they stand a chance to lose their standing ovation politically speaking when other people offer such information.

All Governments are the same

In the context of Zambia just as it was in Tanzania, the ministries of minerals in the two countries were reported to have not sent out the invitations to the crucial gatherings that were discussing transparency issues on management of natural resources and the revenues thereof.

Participants complained of how the governments, “sent out the invites at the eleventh hour, expecting endorsement from the civil society organisations (CSOs) without even going through the materials that were supposed to be circulated to stakeholders some time before the meeting.”

This attitude of the governments in Africa places precedence for non-transparent dialogue on how Africa’s massive natural resource deposits could be a catalyst to an improved socioeconomic standing.

It must not go without saying that while Publish What You Pay is mandatory, the EITI remains voluntary and open-ended. This was another point of concern and something has to be done. In my view, this open-endedness of the EITI leaves a lot of space for ‘looting-minded’ multinational organisations to refuse signing.

There must be a way in which the countries which support and are registered members this initiative call for a more mandatory law and or policy to get companies from the developed North to open their books for scrutiny.

Arrogance and evading Scrutiny

I recall an experience with the general manager of Barrick Gold Corporation’s Bulyanhulu mine site, Greg Walker when we paid him a visit with a group of journalists in September/November 2008. He was asked by one of the journalists if he could give a statement of the mine’s annual financial report, annual production report and to tell the group the percent of royalty they pay; he retorted, “Go ask your government, I am not ready to answer such questions!”

That is the same kind of an answer you get from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals in Tanzania (unless they have changed in the last one month.) In Tanzania, even those who were chosen to be in the EITI council are people who are looked as ‘non-challenging’ development allies of the government. Here you must have in mind the fact that most of our African leaders even when they are said to be young; are in reality “a chip from the old block.”

It is time therefore that, such good project and development strategies are brought forth with well thought terms of references so as to reach the desired better end. We have a big struggle to ensure that the mother grinding in the traditional stone mill in the African most rural villages would see, taste and benefit from the harvest that God placed on mother Africa before He placed her inhabitants.
As we pursue equity, let us not forget that, “The work of many of the greatest men, inspired by duty, has been done amidst suffering and trial and difficulty. They have struggled against the tide, and reached the shore exhausted.”
But at the end they overcame.

North Mara: Witnesses on the Ground I

2009-07-02T09:58:00.002+02:00

North Mara area and Tarime in general has become rather volatile. This situation is as a result of ethnic clashes but mostly the wrangles between the local communities and Barrick Gold Corporation. The latter has proved to aggravate the situation to an extent that social and economic welfare of the people in Nyamongo is interfered with greatly. Below, is a testimony of a member of society who recently visited the North Mara area…

Hello Friends!!!

I would like to thank you for your concern on this matter in Nyamongo Tarime. The sampling exercise was done extremely well without any problem. We managed to do some interview with a reasonable number of the community members in various areas and both political leaders.
It was good that we never involved the local media crew who are in Tarime otherwise they could notify the Company about our presence something which could frustrate our mission.

On the preliminary indications the samples gives us very shocking impressions. We managed to witness three dead cows, and the meat had abnormal colour, and we have taken some pieces of internal organs for laboratory check up.

We are set to meet the Tarime District commissioner on Monday morning for the interview and to hear about the government's action on this matter. We would like to report in his office for protocol purposes but also know his position and view on this matter.

I do believe that my colleagues will be in a position to share their views on what exactly occurred on the field. My general observation is that Barrick Gold mine is very rude and does not care about the wellbeing of the people. What matters to Barrick Goldmine Company is only gold.

My suggestion to this situation is to mobilise all stakeholder to meet as quick as possible and put down necessary strategies to force the Company to cease production for a while so as to allow thorough investigations and solutions towards the problems that are facing the communities surrounding this area.

We need to do it very quickly to rescue the lives and the future of the generations to come. The situation is very tense between the villagers and the company, I was surprised to see a big number of field force Police men guarding the piles of stones in this area while the people and the environment are perishing.

We invite all well wishers to join our efforts, otherwise Tanzania and the people in Tarime will be left in an extreme poverty and death cases are obvious in a very few years to come.

Continue to pray for God's intervention in this matter those who are responsible have decided to side with the company and not the poor communities.
It is very unfortunate that this inhuman behaviour and injustices are done by rich companies. May God be seen in this situation.