MEDIA ADVISORY | INVITATION
“THE PARADOX OF PLENTY”
A PANEL DISCUSSION ON NATURAL RESOURCES, GOVERNANCE AND VIOLENT CONFLICT
Oxfam will host a panel discussion on ‘the paradox of plenty’, exploring the links between natural resources, governance and violent conflict.
The panel discussion will explore the ‘resource curse’ of African countries that possess rich natural resource endowments that could potentially be translated into broad-based economic, human, and social transformative changes, but which have become mired in economic and political governance deficits and social, political and economic exclusion.
Noting that the goal of the 14th annual Alternative Mining Indaba (#AMI2023) is to create a safe space for mining-affected communities, civil society organizations, and non-state actors to share information, exchange ideas, and build solidarity, the panel discussion will include Oxfam representatives from South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda.
Oxfam will screen several short form documentaries depicting the challenges faced by mining-affected communities in southern Africa in defending community rights and building capacity towards a just energy transition.
Oxfam’s participation in the 14th annual Alternative Mining Indaba is underpinned by a commitment to ensuring ongoing support for mining-affected communities to ensure their substantive participation in decision-making and discourses on climate justice, the extractives sector governance, transparency and accountability.
The panel discussion will also launch Extractive Sector Governance and Violent Conflict in Mozambique, an edited collection – published by Oxfam and Centro Para Democracia E Desenvolvimento (CDD) – that explores the relationship between Mozambique’s gas and mineral resource boom, state capture and violent conflicts.
Extractive Sector Governance and Violent Conflict in Mozambique examines the ‘paradox of plenty’ in Mozambique, where (poor) governance and mismanagement of the country’s gas windfall has propelled and facilitated the attack on Mocímboa da Praia district in October 2017 and fuelled the escalating violent extremism in Cabo Delgado since then.
“Conflict is the antithesis of development. It creates destitution, undermines the right to live in peace and security, and may even contribute to the loss of property and life that the state is responsible for protecting.” — M. Salih, Foreword to Extractive Sector Governance and Violent Conflict in Mozambique
Oxfam wishes to invite members of the media and other stakeholders to the “Paradox of Plenty Panel Discussion”on February 8, 2023.
Media are invited to engage with Oxfam subject specialists from the extractive industries from across the African continent, all seeking an equitable future and just energy transition for African countries ‘cursed’ with rich natural resources.
ONLINE LINK: https://zoom.us/j/93059152987?pwd=bGU5Zmp0T1BxUlpaellYRThMLzNOQT09
Date: February 8, 2023
Time: 7 am- 9:30 am
Venue: Protea by Marriott Hotel Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge
Executive Room Block B
Address: Portswood Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/u6Gh5AgGe1Zve4Zv8
RSVP: gaopalelwe.phalaetsile@oxfam.org.za | 0724005602
