AFRICAN BUZZ
ETHIOPIA:
POLITICAL TENSION A CONCERN
The rising political tension in Ethiopia poses a danger to the
ongoing reforms by Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed.
According to Jon Temin, director of Africa programmes at
Freedom House, Ethiopia's significant political gains in the last
year are at risk. “Following the assassination of government
officials in the Amhara Region and in Addis Ababa, the
government’s use of repressive measures—which include
shutting down the internet and using the draconian Anti-
Terrorism Proclamation – is troubling,” says Temin.
“Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government should refrain
from resorting to repressive tactics,” says Yoseph Badwaza,
senior program officer for Ethiopia at Freedom House. “Now
that the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia has provided
a timeline for the Sidama statehood referendum, political
leaders in the region and the federal government should
engage in dialogue to reach a mutually agreed settlement of
the issues in question.”
In what the government referred to as a ‘failed coup attempt,’
three senior officials of the Amhara Region, including the
region’s president, were assassinated in Bahir Dar on June
22. Hours later, the army chief of staff and a retired general
were killed in Addis Ababa. Following these killings, the
government shut down the internet for five days and
arrested hundreds of people across the country. Some of
those arrested are accused of terrorist acts and have been
remanded in custody for 28 days under Ethiopia’s Anti-
Terrorism Proclamation.
Sidama activists in the Southern Nations, Nationalities,
and Peoples Region threatened to unilaterally declare a
‘Sidama Regional State’ if the government failed to meet a
constitutionally mandated deadline of July 18 to set a date for
a referendum on Sidama statehood.
In his address to Parliament on July 1, Prime Minister Abiy
urged the activists to wait until the government finalises
preparations for an orderly referendum process and strongly
warned against a unilateral declaration of statehood. On
July 16, the National Elections Board of Ethiopia issued a
statement saying that it will conduct the referendum in the
next five months.
DRC:
POSITIVE MOOD AT MINING
WEEK
According to Susa Maleba, SRK Consulting DRC country
manager and mining engineer, a positive mood and good
attendance at the recent DRC Mining Week 2019 held in
Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is a
promising sign for the country’s prospects.
Notwithstanding the country’s many challenges ahead, the
new mining legislation was generally felt to be a positive
contribution for mining, says Jaco van Graan, SRK principal
mining engineer – not least because of how it promotes
responsible and sustainable mining practices. Van Graan
says that gold prospects were raising the value of the
local sector.
“The grades mined in certain areas by gold and copper
mines make for very exciting prospects, as shown in an
interesting presentation on the Kamoa-Kakula project,” says
Van Graan. “Despite cobalt prices decreasing during the past
year, there is still a strong market for it. As a by-product, it
still adds value to copper producers who now produce cobalt
products.”
“There is still discussion between mining companies and the
new government about the new mining code,” says Wouter
Jordaan, principal scientist at SRK. “It seems there are many
unresolved issues that will need to be addressed over the next
year, which will ultimately also influence investor sentiment.”
The topic of reliable power supply remained high on the
agenda and SRK’s involvement in renewable energy drew
plenty of attention to the exhibition stand, says Candice
Maduray, SRK senior engineering geologist.
“There is growing interest in sustainable energy solutions in
the DRC, and this is an area in which SRK can contribute our
existing skills and experience,” says Maduray.
SOUTH AFRICA:
THE CULTURE OF CARE
“By supporting initiatives such as this, Afrimat continues
creating value not only for its shareholders, but also for
people in the communities where it operates. We have also
made a fundamental difference to these children’s lives, and
that is central to what we want to achieve with any of our CSI
initiatives,” says Afrimat CEO, Andries van Heerden.
www. africanmining.co.za
African Mining Publication
Open-pit mining company Afrimat recently completed the
construction of a second accommodation wing at the Känguru
Home in Klipriver, Gauteng, which cares for terminally ill and
disabled children.
The SRK Team at the DRC Mining Week 2019, from left:
Colin Wessels (PMB), Wouter Jordaan (DBN), Susa Maleba (DRC),
Benedict Mabenge (JNB), Candice Maduray (CTN), Celine Mukekwa
(DRC), Mamie Mbayo (DRC), Jaya Omar (JNB), and front:
Jaco Van Graan (JNB), Patrick Mboma (DRC).
African Mining
African Mining October 2019
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