#Tanzania: 50+ Years of Mining! A brief synopsis of Evans Rubara TEDxDar talk by @profesy
What killed Zinjanthropus? “Selfishness, Zinji wanted everything for himself and forgot others. This confused and messed him up at the same time” said theologian, activist and investigative journalist Evans Rubara.
He adds that after 50 years of passive patience what we are seeing now is a country unsure of what is theirs as they see diamonds and Tanzanite disappear and sold out there with no benefit to the people, what we are seeing is Tanzanians who have not been able to demand what is truly theirs.
The issue of the environmental and social impact from the mining sector is a delicate one. As a matter of fact it is still pretty unclear to most.
The second last speaker of the day could not have put it any clearer, and although his information was questionable to a few, it did shed some light on some pretty disturbing goings on in the mining sector.
Rubara painted a picture of unrestrained decadence in the mining sector, especially since the turn of the new century with the introduction of multinational takeovers of most mining activities by the “Big 3” companies AngloGold Ashanti, Resolute Mining and “giant’ Barrick Gold.
Prior to this Evans talked of a time when the British takeover from the German occupation of the mines in 1919 saw a mining legislation appear and geological surveys were established. In the 70’s and 80’s, the government took control but failed dismally at handling the job, so in the 90’s when private based development in the sector was introduced, Tanzania started to see the success from private sector based development.
The foreign “infesters”, he repeated during the evening presentation, have done less good and have not been as instrumental to the country as artisanal miners of yesteryear. In fact, he added, that if government officials in charge of the Mining and investment sectors were more concerned with the country, we would not be where we are right now.
He spoke of great acts against humanity and the rapid environmental degradation (he even presented images of some of the affected). And though officials have said it wasn’t so, Rubara cited examples of such acts happening in the Tigithe River area where poisonous sludge from the mine seeps through to the river and affects the locals who use the water.
Recent explorations and “new developments” through the emergence of Oil, Uranium and Gas are already under possible threat and could see a complete takeover the likes of those in the “non-tax paying” gold mines, Rubara noted.
Although some of the cases presented by Rubara were mentioned by the media in the past, a lot was a fresh reminder of how much we do not know and do not see living in urban centres that are not in close proximity to these mines. The details were at times hard to swallow that some of what he presented would seem chimerical.
Rubara’s presentation was in your face and the least bit subtle, (one member in the crowd even comparing him to a passionate preacher on the pulpit), with him leaving us to ponder with the riveting and inciting question -
“Whose responsibility is it, to ensure OUR Safety, OUR Prosperity & Protect OUR environment; and to never undermine future Generations’ welfare?”
Photo credit: The Globe and Mail
