The African Federation of Miners and Mineral Wealth (AFMMW) has endorsed a landmark decision to create an African Mining Investment Company aimed at developing and managing mining assets across the continent.
The decision, which was outlined in a communiqué issued at the close of the Federation’s second Executive Board Meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, signals a shift from advocacy alone to direct participation in Africa’s mineral economy.
According to the communiqué, the new investment entity will work to unlock greater value from Africa’s vast mineral resources and channel those benefits toward workers and communities. The Federation believes this approach is crucial in tackling the paradox of Africa’s resource wealth alongside persistent poverty.
The communiqué also highlighted a resolution to intensify recruitment of mining unions across the continent, with the aim of building a united front to advocate for better working conditions, eliminate precarious employment, and strengthen occupational health and safety standards in the sector.
In addition, the AFMMW signaled its intent to align closely with the African Mining Vision and collaborate with regional blocs including the African Union, ECOWAS, SADC, and others to ensure mineral wealth fuels industrialisation and economic transformation.
To sustain its long-term vision, the communiqué noted that the Federation will deepen solidarity among member unions through education, training and exchange programmes, fostering stronger organisational capacity across borders.
The six-point communiqué was signed by AFMMW President Joseph Chewe and Secretary General Mohamed Ahmed Abdelhalim Ibrahim. The next Executive Board Meeting, to be hosted by the Ghana Mineworkers’ Union in Accra, is expected to focus on translating the Lusaka resolutions into concrete action.
Established in Cairo in February 2024, the AFMMW serves as the umbrella body for mining trade unions across Africa, seeking to ensure the continent’s mineral wealth delivers lasting benefits for its people.
