Minister Kizito Pakabomba Speaks Out Against Mineral Resource Exploitation
Cape Town, Mining Indaba – At the annual gathering of the African mining industry, Minister Kizito Pakabomba delivered a powerful message advocating for the transformation of Africa’s mineral resources locally, rather than exporting them in their raw form. He also condemned the plundering of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by Rwanda, calling for a firm response to this violation of national sovereignty.
**The Urgency of Industrialization for Africa**
In his address, the minister emphasized the urgent need for African nations to develop sophisticated downstream industries to maximize the value added to their resources. To achieve this goal, he recommends:
– Massive investment in research and development, fostering collaborations between universities, research centers, and mining sector companies.
– Strengthening public-private partnerships to establish transformation industries, such as the joint DRC-Zambia project on manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles.
“We must stop being mere suppliers of raw materials and become major players in mining transformation,” emphasized the minister.
**Regional Integration: A Strategic Imperative**
Another major challenge addressed in his speech is the need for increased cooperation among African nations to avoid unfair competition. The minister called for:
– Harmonization of legal and tax frameworks to attract more investments.
– The creation of regional cooperation mechanisms, similar to OPEC for oil or CIPEC for copper.
– The establishment of an information exchange framework to ensure transparent and effective management of the continent’s natural resources.
**A Clear Denunciation of Plundering of Congolese Resources**
Beyond economic issues, Minister Kizito Pakabomba took the opportunity to strongly denounce the illegal exploitation of Congolese resources by Rwanda.
“Since the Indaba in Cape Town, we strongly denounce the plundering of our mineral resources by Rwanda, which is engaging in an unacceptable aggression against our country. Supporting collaboration between African nations also means refusing to stay silent in the face of this blatant violation of our sovereignty!”
Through this unequivocal statement, he calls on African and international bodies to take responsibility to put an end to this situation that undermines the economy and stability of the DRC.
**A Vision for a Strong and Sovereign Africa**
Through this intervention, Minister Kizito Pakabomba reaffirms his commitment to an Africa that transforms its resources locally, protects its sovereignty, and emerges as a key player in the global mining industry. His message is clear: the continent cannot simply be a reserve of raw materials; it must become a driver of innovation and industrial development.
With this ambition, the DRC and all of Africa can look forward to a future where their wealth benefits their populations first and not foreign interests.