Let’s stop illicit mineral trade

AFRICA’S mineral wealth should be a source of prosperity, economic transformation and improved livelihoods for its people. Yet, for decades, the continent has witnessed a troubling contradiction.

Despite being endowed with vast deposits of precious and critical minerals, many of its citizens remain trapped in poverty, while their natural environment continues to suffer from irresponsible mining practices.

This contradiction raises an important question: what is the value of being richly endowed with natural resources if the people who own them do not benefit meaningfully from their exploitation?

The Great Lakes region, in particular, is endowed with an impressive range of minerals, including gold, coltan, cobalt, copper, tin, tungsten, lithium and manganese.

These resources are increasingly important to the global economy, particularly in the production of electronics, renewable energy technologies and defence systems.

However, possessing these resources is only one part of the equation.

Ensuring that their exploitation translates into economic opportunities, decent jobs, infrastructure development and improved living standards for local communities is an entirely different challenge. One of the biggest obstacles to achieving this is illicit mineral trade.

The illegal extraction, smuggling and sale of minerals outside established regulatory frameworks deprive governments of much-needed revenue, undermine legitimate businesses, fuel insecurity and contribute to environmental destruction and human rights abuses.

The consequences are particularly serious in the Great Lakes region, where illicit mineral networks have been associated with persistent insecurity and conflict.

This is an economic loss not only to individual countries but to the entire African continent. It is against this background that Zambia’s call for stronger auditing of minerals in the Great Lakes region deserves serious consideration.

Speaking at the close of the three-day 30th meeting of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Audit Committee on Natural Resources in Lusaka, Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary Hapenga Kabeta emphasised the importance of credible auditing in promoting responsible mining, curbing illicit mineral trade and strengthening confidence in regional mineral supply chains.

His message speaks to a fundamental requirement for Africa’s mineral governance: accountability must be supported by credible institutions and effective enforcement. Mineral auditing is not merely an administrative exercise.

It is an important instrument for establishing the origin of minerals, verifying certification, identifying weaknesses in supply chains and preventing illegally sourced resources from entering legitimate international markets. When properly implemented, these measures can strengthen investor confidence and help African minerals command greater value on international markets.

However, the success of such initiatives will ultimately depend on whether recommendations made in conference rooms translate into practical action on the ground. https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home