Lawmakers push for transparency in mining

Participants at the just concluded global seminar on the role of parliaments in the development of extractive industries have committed to ensure that the mining sector in Africa help the continent become self-reliant through their oversight role. This was one of the resolutions at the conclusion of the three-day meeting at the Parliament Building in Kigali, yesterday. “We believe that legislators can play an important role in creating viable oversight mechanism to monitor the collection and use of revenues from extractive industries, and in ensuring that the interests of citizens are taken into account during the allocation and disbursement of revenues collected by governments,” Speaker of Parliament Donatile Mukabalisa said in her closing remarks. The Lawmakers tour a mineral processing workshop at Rutongo mines in Rulindo District yesterday. Held under the theme, “Transparency and Accountability in Extractive Industries: The Role of the Legislature,” the meeting was organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Institute (WBI), among other partners. The seminar aimed to discuss ways in which legislators can be part of the transformation of the mining sector while ensuring that the revenue generated in the industry is put to good use for sustainable development. The meeting brought together about 50 participants from Australia, Cameroon, DR Congo, Cameroon, Seychelles, Uganda, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia and host country Rwanda. It was observed during discussions that economies that are overly dependent on oil and other mineral wealth have often encouraged dictatorial rather than democratic form of governance. Mitchell O’Brien, World Bank’s governance specialist, on Tuesday noted that even though many developing countries are endowed with natural resources, they remain marred with challenges that have made it difficult for them to utilise these resources to reduce poverty. “It is unfortunate that instead of contributing to poverty reduction and economic growth, these natural resources are a source of corruption and other related consequences, like conflict and wars. As legislators, let’s work together to influence good governance characterised by accountability, transparency in the utilisation of these resources for the social welfare of the citizens,” Mukabalisa added. Workers in a mineral processing workshop at Rutongo mines in Rulindo District yesterday. (All photos by John Mbanda) It was recommended that revenues from oil, gas, and mining should rather be used to spur economic growth and social development, rather than being the centre of conflict and civil wars, especially on the continent of Africa. Peter Tinley, member of the Western Australia Legislative Assembly, said issues related to natural resources have at times been interpreted as a “curse”. And to put end to the curse, Tinley suggested that proper, transparent, fiscal and production linkages along with consumption linkages are the four pillars that would determine how the revenues generated from the resources would flow to the communities to serve the benefits of all. In their resolutions, the delegates committed to ensuring financial transparency in the extractive industries through budget ratification process to ensure that dividends benefit the community, as well as use of effective parliamentary oversight tools to enhance accountability of the extractive sector, and improve natural resource governance through enhanced political consensus. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

News

Lawmakers push for transparency in mining