14 Oct 2015

Chairperson of Botswana Civil Society Climate Change Coalition says the alternative mining forum is meant to create space for dialogue on mining related issues.

Speaking at the alternative mining forum, Bishop Champion Malongwa said the issue covered contribution to development, impact on the environment and the communities around mining areas for sustainable and equitable benefit sharing.

He said the forum was part of a regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) campaign under the banner: Alternative Mining Indaba, which was convened every year in Cape Town by SADC civil society organisations and communities affected by mining.

“The forum presents an open platform for stakeholders to dialogue on the socio-economic, political and spiritual challenges and opportunities presented by the mining sector in Botswana,” he said, adding that they have built partnerships over the last years through this initiative.

He further indicated that the first and second forums were held in Tlokweng and Selibe-Phikwe respectively adding that one such partnership is with Mmadinare community plus surrounding villages.

Bishop Malongwa said the forum also provided a platform to share information on achievements, policy gaps and strategies that could help promote good governance, transparency and sustainability of Botswana’s natural resources.

For his part, Mr Mandla Hadebe of Economic Justice Network said his organisation is looking to address exploitation that is taking place among the poor and marginalised people regarding the mining of resources that are in their vicinity.

“The Economic Justice Network (EJN) of the Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa (FOCCISA) is an ecumenical organisation working with 12 national councils of churches in Southern Africa. 

Our vision is to harness the resources of the southern African region for all of its people, with a view to bringing about economic justice through the transforming agency of Christians compelled by the gospel of Jesus Christ,” he said.

He further said EJN is also meant to strengthen the commitment of the church in its advocacy work on economic justice and to act as a catalyst for engaging people in the promotion of just economic and social structures. 

“The Network will establish mechanisms to bring the experience and concerns of the marginalised and the poor people to the agenda of the church and society,” he said.

The theme of the forum is ‘Making Natural Resources Work For The People’ and it is aimed at making local communities benefit from natural resources located in their areas. Ends