`Analyse govt decisions in mining sector`

The sustainable developments by the extraction of natural resources like minerals, oil and gas in most African countries including Tanzania depends on the government’s decisions.

This is because the key important decisions that have long term impact on the growth of the extractive industry are made by the governments on behalf of its people.

This was revealed mid this week during the first day of reporting on oil, gas and mining training which involved 29 journalist from Tanzania, Ghana and Uganda. The theme of the training which took place in Kampala is to strengthen media oversight of the extractive sectors.

Among stakeholders, but top of the list of the important decision making, is the government, which should take and play the lead role in this task.

Speaking at media training held at African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), George Lugalambi, Media Programme Officer, Revenue Watch Institute - Natural Resource Charter - emphasised the role of government in making and implementing such decisions in the extractive industry.

“A government needs to make a chain of good decisions founded on strong governance decisions; for example how they manage their revenues and investing it for sustainable development,” the officer said.

The natural resources must put  interest of its citizens at the forefront, to protect their interests and that of the country by making a chain of good decisions founded on strong governance foundations, he said.

“The government should make good decisions by involving local people - decisions need to be consistently good… you cannot manage your resources if you do not manage your politics well,” Lugalambi noted.

Lugalambi, who is also facilitator, said journalists must be knowledgeable, must critique and appreciate government decisions and ensure they are founded on transparency, effective management and accountability.

He added that transforming minerals into sustainable prosperity requires the coordinated action of the private sector and government, with oversight by civil societies, media and citizens.

When reporting about the extractive sector, journalists should not deal with the challenges only but also they should focus on the available opportunity in the sector.

This was stated by Peter Mwesige, Excutive Director of African Centre for Media Excellence, (ACME),  who is also a facilitator.

Deodatus Mfugale, Training Director, Journalists’ Environmental Association (JET), Tanzania, told journalist to be accountable and stand for the issues that benefit the community.

“Journalists should analyse every government decision on its merit, you should not just criticise every decision made by the governments,” he said.

The gas and mining training will be followed by a three-day field trip to the extractive areas in western Uganda.