The African Union Minerals Resources Ministers adopt the draft Statute of the African Minerals Development Center (AMDC)

26 November 2014 – Livingstone, Zambia. The 1st Extraordinary session of the African Union Conference of Ministers Responsible for Mineral Resources Development (CAMRMRD) at Ministers level, kicked off yesterday in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The meeting is organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and co-hosted by both the Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The objective is to consider important issues arising out of the 3rd Ministerial Conference held in Maputo, Mozambique in December 2013. African Union Ministers in charge of the Mineral sector are also gathered to validate the institutional and sustainable framework developed by the Senior Officials for the establishment of the AMDC.
The 1st Extraordinary session of the CAMRMRD directed the AUC to develop a Statute of the AMDC within the African Union structures reporting mechanism. The first Bureau Meeting of CAMRMRD held in Luanda, Angola on 11 – 13 August 2014, endorsed an AUC recommendation on the establishment of the AMDC as an African Union specialized Agency for the implementation of the Africa Mining Vision (AMV) and requested the AUC to prepare a study on the sustainability of this Centre.
At the opening ceremony of the meeting, the Commissioner for the Department of Trade and Industry of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mrs. Fatima Haram Acyl, observed a minute of silence in memory of the late President Mr. Michael Sata, affectionately known as “King Cobra”. On behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H. E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, she welcomed the participants and thanked the Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe for jointly hosting the Conference. “Thank you all for your participation which demonstrates your commitment in discussing what I believe to be one of the most critical issues for the inclusive development of Africa”, she said. The Commissioner acknowledged that the Africa Mining Vision is a major step forwards Africa’s commitment to change the situation. She recognized that to realize this Vision, implementation at the national and regional level is essential. “Our work this week builds on ongoing efforts across the Continent to develop and manage our mineral resources in a responsible and inclusive manner, in order to achieve the structural transformation of Africa and the realization of the African Union Agenda 2063”, she mentioned. She also emphasized the fact that the African Union Commission is engaged in the development of an African Commodities Strategy that supports commodity-led industrialization of Africa. She finally commended the Senior Officials for the dedication demonstrated over the past three days to come up with the important documents to be considered by the African Union Ministers in charge of mineral development.
The Minister of Mines and Mining Development of Zimbabwe, Hon. W. K. Chidakwa stressed the fact that the continent is richly endowed with mineral reserves and ranks first or second in quantity of world reserve of bauxite, cobalt, diamond, phosphate rock, platinum-group metals, vermiculite and zirconium while gold extraction is the key driver of the Africa’s mining activities. However, he deplored the fact that in spite of this rich mineralization, African people are still in poverty. “Based on this flawed framework, most of the mining deals and activities on the continent have been opaque and detrimental to Africans. Corruption by both Public and Private sector players has compounded the malaise. Secondly, mining in Africa has been largely extractive without beneficiation or value addition. This has led to African countries exporting cheaply priced raw commodities, while importing expensive refined products”, he said. The Minister also pointed out that industrialization can only occur if the continent succeeds in transforming transient mineral wealth into other forms of lasting capital, which outlive the currency of mining and ensure intergenerational equity. “There is need for strong political will and commitment, entrenched belief in the power of indigenous ideas, a capacitated developmental state, visionary leadership, and a good understanding of Africa’s advantages and the dynamics of mineral commodities”, he indicated. To achieve Africa’s industrialization, Mr. Chidakwa stressed the need for the Africa Mining Vision to have an institutional framework to guide the domestication of the AMV. “Thus, trajectories to achieving the Vision at country and sub-regional levels must be different and phased. The African Minerals Development Center (AMDC) will thus play a key coordinating role in accelerating this process across the continent”, he concluded.
The Minister of Mineral Resources of Mozambique, Mr. Victor Borges also Chair of the meeting, thanked the two countries for the excellent facilities provided to the participants. He urged the African Governments to ensure good governance, macro-economic stability, clear policies and competitiveness for the sustainability of the African Minerals Development Center. He then officially declared the meeting open.
The meeting is attended by the African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the United Nations Development Programme and the African Union key partners.