The complexiTy of resource governance in a conTexT of sTaTe ... - Ipis
The complexiTy of resource governance in a conTexT of sTaTe ... - Ipis
The complexiTy of resource governance in a conTexT of sTaTe ... - Ipis
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20 International Alert<br />
Kisengo, apparently to enforce MMR’s position as comptoir unique. 36 Three protest<strong>in</strong>g South<br />
Kivu traders, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the négociant Buyoya, were deta<strong>in</strong>ed until they agreed to sell MMR<br />
the 11 tonnes they had planned to transport to Bukavu. 37 A similar scenario seems to have<br />
occurred at Mayi Baridi/100 Kilos. When the authors visited the site <strong>in</strong> June 2010, traders said<br />
that they feared meet<strong>in</strong>g the same fate as Kisengo traders. In particular, the management <strong>of</strong> an<br />
un<strong>of</strong>ficial comptoir, Goshen, 38 which said it had <strong>in</strong>vested over US$50,000 to br<strong>in</strong>g several pits<br />
<strong>in</strong>to production, compla<strong>in</strong>ed it would now be forced to sell without pr<strong>of</strong>it. Shortly after the visit,<br />
several Bashi traders were arrested at Mayi Baridi. MMR Kalemie has bought approximately 40<br />
tonnes <strong>of</strong> coltan and 10 tonnes <strong>of</strong> cassiterite from these and other sites. 39<br />
<strong>The</strong> quid pro quo for MMR’s promis<strong>in</strong>g trad<strong>in</strong>g position is a promise to deliver social services to the<br />
region where it is expand<strong>in</strong>g. However, it is implement<strong>in</strong>g these obligations at a much slower rate than<br />
it is enforc<strong>in</strong>g its monopoly. Under the contract, MMR is committed to build<strong>in</strong>g a camp site, wells,<br />
schools, medical centres and roads, and to guarantee<strong>in</strong>g health and education, <strong>in</strong> collaboration with<br />
a cooperative called CDMC. In practice, work <strong>in</strong> these areas did not beg<strong>in</strong> until June 2010 and was<br />
limited to repair<strong>in</strong>g the first <strong>of</strong> five bridges between Kisengo and Kalemie. 40 Instead <strong>of</strong> contract<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
private company to complete the job, MMR is work<strong>in</strong>g with the FARDC military eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g corps.<br />
Moreover, the cooperative CDMC does not <strong>of</strong>ficially seem to exist as <strong>of</strong> yet. 41<br />
<strong>The</strong> social side <strong>of</strong> MMR’s work may become more <strong>of</strong> a priority at a later date. In Manono, where<br />
MMR opened its comptoir a year ago – and where no “monopoly-vs-social obligations” contract<br />
exists – MMR has completed a number <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>frastructure works <strong>in</strong> the area which do have a social<br />
benefit. It has, for example, made repairs to a number <strong>of</strong> schools and has <strong>in</strong>stalled four wells. 42<br />
More recently, two MMR trucks at its Lubumbashi headquarters were prepar<strong>in</strong>g to transport<br />
safety equipment for artisanal m<strong>in</strong>ers to sites where the company is active. Still, the rhetoric<br />
exceeds the action on the ground. 43<br />
BOX 3<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>in</strong>fluence <strong>of</strong> conflict m<strong>in</strong>eral campaigns on prov<strong>in</strong>cial policy to <strong>in</strong>crease<br />
control over trade<br />
<strong>The</strong>re could be several reasons beh<strong>in</strong>d the prov<strong>in</strong>cial measures to prevent the export <strong>of</strong> Katangese<br />
m<strong>in</strong>erals via the Kivus and to prioritise a s<strong>in</strong>gle comptoir. <strong>The</strong> primary motive is, presumably, to direct<br />
more tax revenues from the m<strong>in</strong>eral trade <strong>in</strong> the north to Lubumbashi.<br />
36 In June 2010, MMR tried to obta<strong>in</strong> a permis de recherche for the Kisengo area from the m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g authorities, but the request was denied.<br />
http://www.ipisresearch.be/maps/CaMi/web/<strong>in</strong>dex.html.<br />
37 Interviews, Bashi traders, UN Human Rights Division and Division des M<strong>in</strong>es, Kalemie, June 2010; <strong>in</strong>terview, M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> M<strong>in</strong>es <strong>of</strong>ficial,<br />
Lubumbashi, July 2010.<br />
38 <strong>The</strong> enterprise was apparently built up around a clergyman, Muhiya Nyembo Gedeon, who possesses a carte de négociant and a registered<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong> Kalemie. Goshen is not an <strong>of</strong>ficial comptoir, however, and is registered as a general trader mention<strong>in</strong>g other economic<br />
activities such as fish<strong>in</strong>g, saw mills and pharmaceuticals. Goshen is an unusual m<strong>in</strong>eral trader <strong>in</strong> that its owner orig<strong>in</strong>ates from Kongolo,<br />
not the Kivus. <strong>The</strong> claim <strong>of</strong> US$50,000 <strong>in</strong>vestment is hard to verify, but Goshen <strong>in</strong>stalled a number <strong>of</strong> pumps <strong>in</strong> the pits and posted at least<br />
one technician to the site.<br />
39 Interview, MMR general manager <strong>of</strong> Kalemie, Kalemie, June 2010.<br />
40 Interview, MMR general manager <strong>of</strong> Kalemie, Kalemie, June 2010.<br />
41 Artisanal m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g service SAESSCAM had still not received the cooperative’s accreditation several months after the contract came <strong>in</strong>to<br />
force, and MMR could not provide contact details <strong>of</strong> a CDMC representative. In any event, it is the <strong>in</strong>tention <strong>of</strong> MMR to fund the CDMC<br />
structure, so it is unlikely the cooperative will defend the rights <strong>of</strong> its members (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g fair prices for the artisanal m<strong>in</strong>ers) over the<br />
company’s <strong>in</strong>terests.<br />
42 G. Ngoy Amisi, M<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g M<strong>in</strong>eral Resource, un exploit à Manono, Tanganikanews, 6th June 2010. See http://tanganikanews.centerblog.net/.<br />
43 <strong>The</strong>re is some uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty about how the social projects are funded and by whom. In Manono, for <strong>in</strong>stance, remunerated projects (such as<br />
a water well) executed by Solutions for Africa (a social-development arm <strong>of</strong> Somika, MMR’s parent company) and those <strong>of</strong> MMR display<br />
sponsorship signboards from both. Likewise, an MMR brochure claims the company is repair<strong>in</strong>g the Kalemie-Nuynzu road, but the works<br />
are actually be<strong>in</strong>g carried out by the government. MMR’s activity seems to be conf<strong>in</strong>ed to build<strong>in</strong>g a few bridges.