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The abandoned employees of the Gecamines
7/18/13

The sinking of an empire

In the first two chapters of his book, Benjamin Rubbers deals with the historical implications of the World-Bank reform of the mining sector in Katanga promoted by the World Bank. He examines the reasons for the decline of Gecamines then describes in depth the careers of the different players who played a role in the privatization and liberalization of the mining sector.

“In Katanga, the privatization of the mining sector did not occur following the decline of Gecamines. The two processes were directly linked. Certainly, the imposition of neoliberal measures by the World Bank opened up the mining sector in Katanga to foreign companies. Nonetheless, the responsibility of Congolese politicians and high-level public servants in the affair cannot be ignored. In order to benefit from this company, they were able to count on the complicity of local economic players who were involved in stripping the company of its resources and then attracting investors within the framework of public/private partnerships that were often opaque”, explains the researcher.

The transition of the mining sector in Katanga to a “new form of capitalism” was characterized as much by the appearance of new mining companies as by the growth in the trade of minerals extracted by thousands or even tens of thousands of freelance prospectors.  “Although very different in nature, these two processes, one industrial and the other artisanal were nonetheless directly linked”, points out Professor Rubbers. When the opportunity presented itself, holders of capital (companies, local businessmen etc.) were able to use machines or diggers, to process the minerals or to export them in their raw state, and to sell the product to large companies or to small intermediaries. He goes on to add: “even though Gecamines still employs some 12,000 people today, its debt remains colossal and its management is totally under the control of the office of the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo. No one knows where its profits are going”!

In the light of the political upheaval that has punctuated the history of the country and the mobility of mining capital within the world mining sector, who can predict the industrial future of Katanga. 

“The influx of foreign investors was of especial benefit to Kabila’s government, which has an uncertain future”, continues Benjamin Rubbers, “but has been of very little benefit to the population of Katanga. Mining activity is growing rapidly, but this has not resulted in the creation of employment locally, inequality is increasing and a lot of people have been left behind”. Foremost among those left behind are the 10,000 Gecamines workers who have been made redundant.

This observation puts things into perspective in a very enlightening way and helps us to better understand the consternation of the Congolese people in the face of collapse of the industrial empire that once was Gecamines and which they believed would last forever. From this point of view, the VRS of 2003-2004 was not only a social tragedy for the redundant workers, but it also symbolized the end of an era, the era of industrial paternalism inherited from the colonial era.

Panda workers camp

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