For decades, it was practiced in the area, the artisanal exploitation of minerals in the area of Walikale, each one being able to call himself abusively artisanal digger, without having quality. This form of exploitation, which was not structured, caused the Congolese State to lose revenue due to the public treasury, since even the fruits of this artisanal exploitation were sold fraudulently without following the normal circuit. Remember that even rebellions have taken advantage of this lack of structuring the artisanal mining sector to enrich its belligerents.
This sector was somewhat structured with the arrival of SAEMAPE, SAESCAM at the time, which was trying to supervise the artisanal diggers of Basie. Despite the presence of this State service, there is reason to ask the question about the impact of this artisanal mining on local development. Since many artisanal workers worked solo, mining resources benefited individuals who enriched themselves at the expense of local communities.
The creation of mining cooperatives also did not help the areas around the mine to develop, given that it was a new experience implemented in the region and whose managers were getting the lion’s share. This has meant that despite the needs for jobs or any development, School or health structure, has been the most unanswered in the province of North Kivu despite the so-called mineral wealth of the territory. All this seemed to maintain the Territory of Walikale in the status quo despite its potential and its wealth in terms of mineral resources. Nothing tangible has been done in terms of the contribution of artisanal mining to local development.
Contribution of industrial exploitation in local development
The advent of Alphamin BisieMining in Walikale in 2013 changed the situation, a few years after the launch of its exploitation phase of the Basie mine in 2019. Even before the start of this phase, the company began to carry out acts of development in the areas occupied by the communities impacted by this gigantic mining project. We can cite the modern primary School of LOGU, the multiple projects in the agricultural sector in Wasa, walikale Centre, etc.
In its beginnings, the project of ABM SA on the industrial exploitation of tin in Walikale was opposed by several strata and personalities, pleading for the installation of artisanal diggers in this site although having noted the limits of exploitation artisanal in the development of the area, which because of the non-application of the Mining Code has kept the territory of Walikale in the same situation of underdevelopment. Concerned about the economic growth of the territory of Walikale through mining, the Congolese government has granted an operating permit to the company Alphamin Bisie Mining in the Bisie area for industrial tin mining.
This title will be fought by several sons of Walikale. Only three people took the risk of distinguishing themselves by their position showing the advantages of the industrialization of the Basie mine in the take-off of the development of this territory by accompanying this company. They are the honorable Alfani Machozi, Me Gilbert Kalinda and the young notable David Kubuya Clovis. Although demonized by certain layers and personalities, the latter have kept their position which, today, has produced its effects.
Alphamin Bisie Mining, which is now in its operating phase, has created employment for young people (today tens of thousands of young people from the Walikale territories have been released from unemployment and have their life), support for the livestock sector, fish farming, support for farmers (by CAPSA, the development structure thanks to the initiative of Alliance Lowa, the development body of ABM SA), the construction of schools and structures health, the granting of scholarships, payment of mining royalties, support for the sports sector,…something that artisanal mining has never done, if we can be comparative.
Today, many young people dream of working in this company which has changed the lives of communities impacted by this gigantic project as well as that of the sons of Walikale who are involved in it. For example, several families have sent their children to study new fields such as mineralogy or any other field with the aim of working in a mining company like ABM SA.
The Redaction
