Irresponsible Mining, Illegal Mining and other Reports

Every week, RuralReporters.com collate reports on development issues in rural Africa and its environs.

This report includes some of our top picks from recent must-read research, interviews, blogs, and in-depth articles, carefully selected to help you keep up with global issues.

Here are some of the updates you may have missed from the previous week:

Mozambique’s coastal village on the brink of extinction from irresponsible Chinese mining

An irresponsible Chinese mining operation in Mozambique has put an entire coastal village of more than a thousand people at serious risk of being washed into the Indian Ocean, Amnesty International revealed today in a new report.

Our lives mean nothing: the human cost of Chinese mining in Nagonha, Mozambique, exposes how the operations of mining company, Haiyu, likely contributed significantly to a flash flood in 2015 in the village of Nagonha, which destroyed 48 homes and left 290 people homeless. The Mozambican authorities’ failure to regulate the industry in the wake of this disaster has also contributed to the risks to the village from the company’s ongoing mining operations.

Malawi: Govt Should Keep Promises to Rural Residents, Protect Them From Mining

When I was doing research for Human Rights Watch’s report on the human rights impacts of mining in Karonga district in northern Malawi, I talked to many women who grow cassava, maize and rice to feed their family.

The government has never told them whether pollution from the mines is affecting their fields or what they need to do to protect the health of their children. The government has tested the nearby water only a few times and has never told the community the results.

Information about water quality and soil pollution is crucial for protecting the rights to health, water, food and a healthy environment. This is especially important for people who live in poor and rural areas and are exposed to increased risks, such as communities located near Malawi’s mining areas.

Time for the private sector to fight rural poverty

The state seems unable to deliver on its mandate of reducing rural poverty, leaving this task up to those in society who are committed to achieving a positive future for South Africa.

As those in rural areas have the most to lose in terms of land invasions, crime and food deprivation, they are probably the people in the best position to take action.

Municipalities need to give a bigger slice of the cake to develop rural areas by removing some bureaucrats from the gravy train and employing locals who will be accountable to their communities. Bureaucrats drain municipal finances, preventing funds from reaching the rural poor.

Ban on airtime to exclude the rural people

The Uganda communications commission has been criticized for banning the sale of airtime scratch cards.

According to Christopher Musoke a financial Inclusion consultant, the ban is going to financially exclude people in rural areas who will find it difficult to access mobile money agents for easy load.

Women activists back Museveni on GMO Bill

Women activists have backed the President’s stance on National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill, 2012 alias GMO bill.
Speaking at the status of women forum last Thursday, the women activists under their umbrella body, the Uganda Women’s Network (Uwonet) applauded the President’s refusal to sign the Bill into law. Under the theme: Challenges and Opportunities in Achieving Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Rural Women in Kampala, the Uwonet xecutive Director, Ms Rita Aciro, said the GMO Bill does not favour women, especially in rural areas and questioned the motive behind the proposed genetic engineering of indigenous seeds.

Rural roads upgrade in all 45 wards in Kenya

The Bungoma government and the national government yesterday started upgrading rural roads. The roads across the 45 wards will be murramed.

Governor Wycliffe Wangamati said phase one will cost Sh70 million. The phase will take two months to complete. Wangamati said they expect to upgrade between 225km and 250km in phase one. He spoke in Kimukungi during the launch. He said bridges across the county are in pathetic condition and his government will set aside Sh100 million in the next financial year to ensure they are repaired.

Busayo Sotunde is a prolific writer with special focus on Business, Entrepreneurship, Reproductive Health and other development issues in Africa. Her articles have been published by different outlets including Investing Port and Ventures-Africa.com. She has a penchant for reading and sustainable development. Follow Busayo on Twitter @BusayomiSotunde
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