27th June 2024
Sello Motseta
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) used the high level governance meet on mineral governance to validate their efforts to support and strengthen democratic institutions and processes around the world, to develop sustainable, effective and legitimate democracies.
It emphasized this commitment during inaugural High-Level Dialogue on Comparative Experiences in Mineral Resource Governance in Africa under the theme “Towards Sustainable Development: Harnessing Africa’s Mineral Wealth for Economic Growth, Social Equity, and Environmental Responsibility.”
“We fully subscribe to the ethos of democracy, good governance, as well as adherence to and respect for the rule of law and human rights as a country. These values are vital for the development and well-being of all societies,” said Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi in official opening remarks.
He said, “I am equally delighted to welcome the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), which similarly has a role in promoting accountability among leaders to uphold governance values and standards aligned with good governance and democracy.”
Masisi extolled the role of the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), in working to facilitate collaboration and coordination among African nations, for the sustainable development of mineral resources.
“The mission statement reflects a commitment to leveraging Africa’s mineral resources for sustainable development, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Botswana’s increased engagement in the extractive industries value chain marks a significant step towards achieving these goals,” said Masisi.
He said, “Cooperation in this sector is essential for ensuring that mineral wealth is harnessed responsibly and contributes to the overall development and prosperity of the continent.”
Through initiatives like training, capacity building, the establishment of the Diamond Technology Park, and the promotion of local jewelry manufacturing, the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) has also played a key role in fostering economic growth and diversification in Botswana.
The mission statement reflects a commitment to leveraging Africa’s mineral resources for sustainable development, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Botswana’s increased engagement in the extractive industries value chain marks a significant step towards achieving these goals
Africa’s mineral wealth holds incredible potential for economic development and growth across the continent. The paradox of Africa holding significant natural resources yet lagging in development is indeed a complex and critical issue.
The challenge of limited value addition and industrialization in Africa’s resource sector is multifaceted and has deep-rooted historical, economic, and systemic dimensions.
Factors such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to capital and technology, lack of skilled labor, governance issues, and extractive oriented economic models, have all contributed to Africa’s reliance on exporting raw materials rather than processing and adding value to them locally.
Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach that involves promoting industrialization, investing in education and skills development, fostering innovation and technology transfer, improving infrastructure, enhancing governance and regulatory frameworks, and fostering partnerships between governments, private sector, and international organizations.
By diversifying economies, promoting value addition, and creating an enabling environment for industrial growth, Africa can unlock the full potential of its natural resources and participate more effectively in global value chains, thus driving sustainable development and prosperity for its people.
“Our unique position as a country that has effectively managed its mineral resources for sustainable development, serves as a valuable example for others facing similar challenges. Sharing Botswana’s experiences and best practices can, indeed, be beneficial for fostering dialogue, knowledge exchange, and capacity building among nations seeking to maximize the benefits of their natural resources,” said Masisi.
He said, “Through collaboration, countries can work towards building resilient economies, promoting inclusive growth, and ensuring that resource wealth translates into tangible improvements in the well-being of their citizens.”
According to officials, Botswana has managed to use its sizeable mineral resources, including, but not limited to, diamonds, coal, copper, manganese, iron-ore, gold, and coal bed methane towards development projects.
Botswana officials maintain it has re-invested its mineral wealth in education and health, in building road, rail and other infrastructure, in creating policies aimed at empowering Batswana and diversifying the economy, and in maintaining an unparalleled commitment to continuous and uninterrupted elections underpinned by an anti-corruption culture.
Botswana’s mining legislation stands out as one of the oldest and most advanced frameworks on the continent. It dates back to the 1969 Mines and Minerals Act, which underwent significant amendments in 1970, to bolster state oversight of minerals and revenue collection.
This robust legal framework not only guides the sustainable management of mineral resources, but also reinforces transparency and ensures that the mining sector’s benefits contribute meaningfully to Botswana’s overall development agenda.
The commissioning of significant diamond mines at Orapa in 1971, and Jwaneng in 1982, marked pivotal moments in Botswana’s mining history. The 1991 Mines and Minerals Act played a crucial role in consolidating mining legislation, with a primary focus on attracting foreign investment and fostering partnerships.
Subsequent amendments to 8 the Act in 2008, aimed at augmenting royalties and enhancing state involvement, reflect Botswana’s commitment to maximizing the benefits derived from her mineral resources.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Southern African Development Community’s Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan, all underscore the principle of integrated development at their core. These frameworks are further reinforced by initiatives and visions such as the 9 UNDP’s Sustainable Development Framework, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s (UNECA) Mineral Development Programme, the African Union’s African Mining Vision, and various SADC frameworks, including the SADC Mining Protocol and the SADC Mining Vision.
This forward-looking approach emphasizes the necessity of governance, sound policies, and economic diversification to avoid stagnation and over-dependence on finite resources. By embracing sustainable development practices and fostering a diversified economy, Botswana aims to navigate beyond 11 the pitfalls of resting on past mining laurels towards a more resilient and prosperous future. 28.
The 2008 global economic crisis and the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic have prompted Botswana to embark on a journey of reflection and reset. The Reset Agenda fundamentally focuses on a shift in the national mindset, emphasizing investment in emerging industries and the future generation.
“Hosting this dialogue is a great illustration of Botswana’s leadership on a key challenge
facing democracy, not just in this country but across the continent and indeed all over the world. This is exactly the kind of engagement that we want to see from our Member
States. I am very happy that International IDEA is partnering with Botswana and others on this event, and we are committed to ensuring that learnings from this exchange are shared beyond the event’s participants and long after the closing ceremony,” said Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of International IDEA.
He said, “The so-called resource curse is a very well-known concept in the social sciences. This is, of course, the notion that the countries blessed with the greatest natural wealth are the countries most doomed to the autocratic concentration of
power, to abuses of human rights, and ultimately to state failure.”
IDEA officials believe by offering political systems an alternative to the bothersome task of developing proper taxation systems, natural resources can allow them to buy citizens’
acquiescence—or indeed, where resource revenues are especially concentrated in the hands of elites, to ignore citizens’ interests altogether.
“With more than half of the world’s rare minerals and 30 per cent of all global mineral reserves—not to mention the world’s largest arable landmass, the longest river, and the
second-largest tropical forests—there can be no doubt that Africa is blessed with great natural assets. Yet many resource-rich African countries have some of the greatest
gaps between income and human development. The wealth is simply not reaching the people,” said Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora.
He said, “Ultimately, the so-called resource curse is really a curse of politics—and it will only be broken through political solutions. That’s why the discussion on natural resource management matters for International IDEA.”
International IDEA is an intergovernmental organization with 35 Member States from all regions, dedicated to supporting democracy worldwide. Botswana, joined the Institute as one of its first African Member States in 1997.
International IDEA is known globally for producing policy-friendly, comparative knowledge production on issues related to elections, constitution building, political
participation and representation, gender, and the assessment of democratic performance around the world.
The mineral wealth that exists in Africa is not limited to the fossils that fueled the 20th century and now imperil the 21st. Africa also hosts an immense supply of the
resources that will power the green transition, about which we will hear more in the next two days.
The DRC produces over 70% of cobalt globally and South Africa has world’s
largest reserves of manganese. Zimbabwe has large lithium deposits, as does Mozambique for graph(A)ite.
The challenge now is to seize this potential—to leverage the green transition in support of Africa’s sustainable and democratic development.
