According to the African Union, Africa holds two fifths of the world’s uranium and gold, three quarters of the world’s platinum and 90% of the world’s diamonds. And prices of most of these commodities are soaring on world markets. Yet most Africans still live in poverty. Last year the UN reported that 35 of the world’s poorest countries are in Africa. So what explains the failure to use Africa’s riches to uplift the continents citizens? Could it be that mineral resources in Africa are a curse? In this BBC World Debate from Lusaka, Zambia host Redi Tlhabi talks to panelists including Zambia’s Finance Minister, top executives from two multinational mining companies and Clare Short , former UK secretary of state for International Development and now the chair of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Norway.
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This World Debate was produced by Ben Cashdan of the Broad Daylight Films Foundation in Johannesburg for BBC World News. With support from the Open Society Iniatitive for Southern Africa, the Extractive Industries Transparancy Initiative (EITI) and Revenue Watch (USA).
Very refreshing to see a deeper debate about the issues that really matter and it had to take the BBC and not our very own ZNBC..anyway that s another debate.I agree with Clare Short that we should be using the mineral wealth more so now than ever before to stimulate growth in other areas…The foregn direct investment that Felix Mutati sings about is misplaced ,making it condusive for foreign investers bla bla bla,. what about the youth of Zambia????.The minearl wealth should be used to prepare the younger generation for leadership,business creation,creativity…that means education,making loans available,creating policy that positions them in a more competetive situation.We better get our act straight ,this not a time to be selfish
I work with the Ghana Chamber of Mines in the capacity as the Director of Analysis, Research and Finance. I would be very grateful if you can send me the transcript of this debate. Thank you.
Those whom thier livelihood is directly affected by mining operations should and must scrutinize the contracts and agreements that are signed- first and foremost. In South Africa there is a law that governs that, however, the problem lies with the implementation and legal practicalities. Big corporations and host governments must account as to how a value-chain will be created for the benefit of the citizenry. Second economies must develop concrete plans that link mining with other beneficiation industries. We must be able to use this kind of inter-dependence to strike a balance.