Livingstone, Zambia | 16 July 2025– African Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) must play a stronger role in ensuring mining revenues translate into real benefits for citizens, leaders declared yesterday at the opening of the Annual AFROSAI-E Extractive Industries Workshop in Livingstone.
The high-level meeting, attended by auditors general, mining ministers, and governance experts from across Africa, was officially opened with a keynote address from Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema, delivered on his behalf by Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe.
“Are Citizens Truly Benefiting?” – President’s Key Question
Under the theme “The Role of SAIs in Future-Proofing Mining for the Benefit of Citizens,” President Hichilema challenged African nations to scrutinise whether their mineral wealth is being managed fairly.
“As Zambia races toward producing one million tonnes of copper annually, we must ask: Are citizens getting their rightful share?” said Minister Kabuswe, echoing the President’s concerns.
Auditors General Emphasise Transparency & Stability
Zambia’s Acting Auditor General, Dr. Ron Mwambwa, stressed that SAIs must promote accountability to prevent conflicts over resources. “Without trust in how mining revenues are used, instability follows,” he warned.
Brazil’s Augusto Nardes, Minister of the Federal Court of Auditors, highlighted the need for stronger oversight. “Good governance in mining isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of sustainable development,” he said.
Uganda’s Auditor General, Edward Akol, who chairs the Working Group on Extractive Industries (WGEI), added: “SAIs must act as watchdogs, ensuring natural resources fund schools, hospitals, and infrastructure—not just private profits.”
AFROSAI-E: Driving Real Policy Change
Ms. Meisi Nkau, CEO of AFROSAI-E, noted through her representative Josephine Mukomba that the workshop has become a “flagship platform for extractive sector reforms.”
“From improved contract transparency to revenue tracking, our members are turning audit findings into actionable policies,” she said.
What’s Next?
Over the next three days, delegates will discuss:
- Digital tools for tracking mining revenues
- Community engagement in audit processes
- Policy reforms to combat illicit financial flows
With mineral demand surging globally, the pressure is on for Africa to ensure its resources lift millions out of poverty—not just fill foreign coffers.
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