A group of 71 security sector experts and students from the Tanzania National Defence College, academic institutions, the Ministry of Defence, non-profit organizations, Tanzanian Parliamentarians and U.S. and Tanzanian government officials, convened in Dar es Salaam on 16 May, 2013 for a full-day program discussing Natural Resources and Conflict Prevention.

The event was co-hosted by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS), the ACSS Tanzania Community Chapter, and the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania.  The symposium is part of the Washington, D.C.-based Africa Center’s Topical Outreach Program Series (TOPS), designed to increase the quality and quantity of communications and networking among ACSS alumni, ACSS faculty and staff, and U.S. stakeholders and policymakers.

Welcoming and opening remarks were delivered by Professor Egnald P. Mihanjo, President of the ACSS Tanzania Community Chapter; Mr. Bradley Anderson, Program Manager at the ACSS Regional Office for East Africa; and Lt. Col. Kevin C. Balisky, Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam. The symposium was divided into two panels, with discussions on “Natural Resources and Conflict Prevention” and “Competition for Resources.” Panelists at the event included Dr. John Kelly, ACSS Professor of National Security Studies; Professor Egnald P. Mihanjo, President of the ACSS Tanzania Community Chapter and Associate Professor at St. John’s University of Tanzania; Honorable James Lembeli, Member of Parliament for Kahama and Chairman Natural Resources Parliamentary Committee, Natural Resources and Conflict Prevention; Honorable Moses Machali, Member of Parliament for Kasulu; and Ms. Leslie Armstrong, Senior Science Advisor, U.S. Africa Command.

The symposium theme concentrated on the factors of social responsibility and transparent accountability from the government. The idea that those who take resources from the land should return something to the local community was mentioned numerous times during the discussion.  Also discussed was the role Parliamentarians play in challenging the system and assuring the people that their environment is not being wrongfully exploited. The panelists all agreed that the government officials should be mindful of their role as guardians of the public trust.

Professor Mihanjo set the stage by framing the concerns and challenges Tanzania is currently facing.

“All in all, for natural resources to be a valuable national asset for development and to enhance national security, it would need a government that is accountable to people and manages well national resources with well-enshrined public oversight,” Professor Mihanjo said, “otherwise a corrupt bureaucracy will heighten grassroots resistance, public disorder and violence.”

The ACSS Tanzania Community Chapter has developed an interest in the issue because of the potential threat to national development, peace, and stability, Professor. Mihanjo said.

The Honorable James Lembeli presented both the socio-economical benefits and the numerous conflicts that Tanzania is currently facing. “Tanzania is endowed with enormous natural resources,” he said, adding that similar resources have been a source of conflicts in adjacent communities. In his presentation he discussed the conflicts and challenges for communities living in or next to wildlife protected areas and mines.

Dr. John Kelly’s presentation was focused on climate change, water and mining issues in Africa. “The mining industry in Tanzania is an enormous generator for 43 percent of the foreign exchange reserves while representing only 2.5 percent of the GDP,” he said  “Expansion of mining operations requires greater oversight and accountability in order to protect the public welfare.”

He added, “Climate change will impact all natural resources—fresh water, wildlife, timber and extractive materials—because extreme weather changes all operating environments.”

The Honorable Moses Machali explained to the audience what natural resources are, what they are used for and what challenges exist when using the natural resources. He warned, “The government should lead all stakeholders on reviewing the policies and laws governing the use of natural resources and aspects of investment so as to harmonize the country.”  He continued, “…there must be a real participatory approach towards decision making on the use of natural resources in the country. Failure to that it is an extraordinary mistake due to the fact that the government is made for the public interest and the resources available are there for daily human challenges.”

Lastly, Ms. Leslie Armstrong made clear that she was not presenting her personal opinion but instead offering a scientific approach. She said, “I want to use the language of science, which is objective. By reviewing the facts, you can make your own opinion and draw your own conclusions.  My job is to provide scientific facts and not to make decisions for you.”   Armstrong shared a model that could be used in Tanzania to help the country better understand the current state of the environment to better plan for the future.  She explained to the audience, “The management of information provides government the opportunity to see over the horizon.”

ACSS is the pre-eminent institution for strategic security studies, research, and outreach in Africa. The Africa Center engages African partner states and institutions through rigorous academic and outreach programs that build strategic capacity and foster long-term, collaborative relationships. Over the past 14 years, more than 5,000 African and international leaders have participated in ACSS programs.