Zambia’s Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Paul Kabuswe, emphasized the urgent need to bridge the gap between abundant natural resources and their impact on local communities within OACPS countries, particularly those in Africa.
A pivotal meeting convened in Lusaka, bringing together experts from 79 member countries of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS).
The primary goal was to devise sustainable strategies for the extraction of critical resources. The outcomes of this gathering paved the way for recommendations, aiming for a mutually beneficial approach in the mining sector.
These proposals will be presented during the upcoming ministerial meeting in Cameroon in the first quarter of the following year.
Minister Kabuswe stressed the disparity between resource wealth and its translation into tangible benefits for local populations.
“It’s high time for action. Our African resources must translate into substantial improvements in the lives of our people.
We’ve spoken of potential for too long; it’s now crucial to turn words into action,” Kabuswe asserted. He advocated for expedited mapping, exploration, and mining of critical minerals to expedite this process.
Further deliberations emphasized the importance of introspection on exploration, refining mineral value chains, and nurturing beneficial socioeconomic outcomes for countries involved in the mining sector.
Naomi Ngwira, Chairperson of the OACPS Sub-Committee on Trade and Commodities, highlighted the necessity for countries to foster national and regional policies that align with the global digital green transition.
These policies aim to harness sustainable development, ultimately mitigating poverty through strategic interventions and resource management.
The meeting concluded with a collective commitment to drive proactive initiatives that transform resource abundance into direct and substantial benefits for the communities and countries involved.
