COMMISSION: Not a shred of truth is in activists’ claims
The commission rules out that allegations of Mining Watch Canada against North Mara Gold Mine, Tanzania, are invalid.
MONDAY September 9, 2024
By Deus Bugaywa
The Tranquility News Correspondent, Tanzania
International Non-Governmental Organisations’ (NGOs) attempt to impose their own version of truth pertaining to human rights violations has hit a snag at North Mara Gold Mine, Tanzania.
Thanks to the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRGG) for investigating allegations on human rights abuse at the mine and ultimately discrediting them.
International NGOs have repeatedly been imposing their own version of the truth that contradicts the reality on the ground.
CHRGG confirmed that its investigation carried out between April and May 2024 could not find out any evidence of human rights abuses as some NGOs claim.
Toronto-based Mining Watch Canada accused the mine to have committed gross human rights violation between 2021 and 2023 when it was expanding its activities towards Komarera and Kewanja villages in Tarime District.
The land valuation and acquisition process followed all laid down procedures and was carried transparently, involving all parties, with affected villagers appropriately compensated,” Judge (rtd) Mathew Mwaimu, the Chairman of the Tanzania’s Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance.
The Chairperson of the commission, Retired Judge Mathew Mwaimu, assured a battery of journalists in Dodoma on July 19, 2024, saying no evidence was found to back the allegations.
All villagers whose lands were acquired to pave way for the mine’s expansion at Komarera were compensated according to the law.
The North Mara Gold Mine acquired 652 acres of land initially belonging to Komarera Village for the mine’s expansion.
“The land valuation and acquisition process followed all laid down procedures and was carried transparently, involving all parties, with affected villagers appropriately compensated,” Judge Mwaimu.
He stressed that neither cruelty nor abuse allegedly committed during the relocation exercise could be proven.
Established in 2001 to promote and protect human rights and good governance principles in Tanzania, the CHRAGG is the government’s independent body.
The CHRAGG came into force on July 1, 2001, following enactment of the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance Act, No. 7 of 2001.
It was officially promulgated in March 2002 to operate in Tanzania Mainland alone before the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (Extension Act) No. 12 of 2003 extended its mandate to Zanzibar.
Both the 1977 Constitution and the CHRAGG founding legislation outline the commission’s mandate promoting, protecting, and preserving human rights and good governance.
The commission achieves its goals through public awareness campaigns, seminars, workshops, and by advising the government and other entities on human rights and justice administrative issues.
It also investigates complaints related to human rights violations and good governance, conducts inquiries and research, provides legal aid, and cooperates with national, regional, and international bodies dedicated to human rights.
Last December, Mining Watch Canada released a report titled Evicted for Gold Profits: Indigenous Kurya Forced off Land in Expansion of Barrick Gold’s North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania.
The international NGO alleges in its report that Komarera and Kewanja villagers were forcefull evicted to accommodate the mine’s expansion.
The eviction process was unpredictable, coercive, intimidating, and violated the Tanzania’s law, the Mining Watch Canada claims which the commission dismissed in July.
The Special Procedures Branch of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights had on April 22, 2024 issued a joint communication to Barrick’s President and CEO Mark Bristow following the allegations stipulated in the Mining Watch Canada’s report.
Truth has a very admirable characteristic. It does not discriminate between the great and the small, nor does it distinguish between enemies and friends—everything is equal to it,” Tanzania’s Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
The core issue
Some well-established international NGOs have of late been exploiting trust they built over the years by publishing reports that do not reflect the reality on the ground.
The reports their local counterparts often compile on their behalf though fall short of evidence, the institutions believe the reputation and popularity they invested in suffice to convince their target audiences.
Repeated lies form own version of the truth as a Kiswahili adage says. In a world filled with misinformation, Consumers are increasingly compelled to check facts regardless of the credibility of the author.
The Tranquility Newsrecently faced severe criticism when it published its version of story opposing a controversial report by the US-based Oakland Institute.
The criticism stemmed from such entities’ desire to establish their narrative as the sole truth, ignoring democratic principle of freedom of expression.
They insisted their beliefs should be accepted as an absolute truth and a sovereign remedy, disregarding other perspectives.
The authoritarian stance reflects the approach of many activists disseminating misleading information about the North Mara Gold Mine situated in Tarime District, Mara Region, Tanzania.
It is plausible that networks of such NGOs are cashing in their distortions. It is incomprehensible that their hobby is to fabricate and publish misleading information that implicates a mine in an inexistent scandal.
Akin to Pontius Pilate’s question to Jesus: What is truth? Whether the misinformation shrouded in the reports of the NGOs are by oversight or default, it remains to be seen.
Much as the truth has often been subject to manipulation by those in power, perhaps we can borrow a leaf the book of the Tanzania’s Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, regarding the nature of truth.
In his influential booklet published in 1962 titled Tujisahihishe– Let’s Correct Ourselves, Nyerere discusses the nature of truth, saying:
“Truth has a very admirable characteristic. It does not discriminate between the great and the small, nor does it distinguish between enemies and friends—everything is equal to it.
“Truth also has the tendency to retaliate if ignored. If you see me about to kick a stone, thinking it is a ball or a piece of clay, I hope you will warn me.
“But if I ignore your warning because you are smaller or I dislike you, and I kick it, it will break my toe, no matter who I am.
“Truth does not tolerate being ignored! If I say that two plus three is six, I am wrong. But it is better to show me that perhaps I think we are multiplying when we are adding.
“It is true that two times three is six, but two plus three is five, not six. However, if you try to persuade others to reject my ideas and accept yours by saying my teeth are dirty or I am always sneezing, you would be using irrelevant arguments.
“This is an example of foolishness, but often the arguments we use to persuade others to reject the ideas of those we dislike or accept our own are completely unrelated to the matters at hand.”
Let the Mining Watch Canada and other NGOs with a similar motive them correct themselves and adhere to principles of truth, for, as the great statesman says, it does not like to be disregarded, and the cost of ignoring it is enormousΩ
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The Tranquility News Reporter/Sub Editor, Tanzania
Patty Magubira is an experienced environmental and business editor whose career started at the Tanzania's state-owned newspaper - The Daily News. He is a man of perfection. Aided by his extensive training as a community forestry expert before joining Tanzania School of Journalism. Magubira had successfully held various key posts in newsrooms, giving him an unmatched connections in media fraternity. Having worked as a bureau chief in Arusha and Mwanza, he managed to build a team work, boosting sales to the highest level ever. He was then promoted to a sub-editor after completing a training in Nairobi, Kenya. His incredible experience, critical thinking and exposure are critical to the quality of any media outlet.
