Challenges of Developing a Computerised Mining Cadastre System in a Developing Country. (A case study of Tanzania)

Transcription

1 Challenges of Developing a Computerised Mining Cadastre System in a Developing Country (A case study of Tanzania) By John-Bosco Tindyebwa MTL Consulting Ltd

2 Baseline Environment The country Politically stable Developing country Large with an area covering over 884,000 km 2 Developing a market oriented economy

3 Background Environment The mining industry in Tanzania Rich geological endowment, limited mining history (up to year 2000) except artisanal and small scale mining Mineral sector reforms: New legal and policy framework put in place under the World Bank funded Mineral Sector Development Project Minerals Policy 1997 Mining Act, 1998 Mining Regulations, 1999 Ongoing institutional reforms Reforms attracted huge investment in exploration

4 LICENCE ISSUING HISTORY FROM 1990 TO 2005 (Source: Ministry of Energy and Minerals) New Policy and Act Economic reforms

5 Background Environment The Mining Department HQ in Dar es Salaam, 21 Zonal and Resident offices Inadequate human resource (critical in Zonal and Resident offices) Low level of computer literacy Investor/public outcry Lack of transparence (corruption???) in issuing mineral rights First come, first served principle not followed Back log of applications Poor record keeping making it difficult to deal with disputes Government/public concerns The above Uncollected revenue (fees, rent, royalty) Difficult tp track compliance: payments, submission of reports, expenditure commitments, etc Prescription=FlexiCadastre

6 Moving from

7 Via

8 To FlexiCadastre

9 The challenges Human resource: how to get the right people, with the right knowledge in the right positions Theoretically simple: advertise, short list, interview, recruit Practically very difficult in a developing country Availability Resources and sustainability Motivation who sits on which chair

10 The challenges Location of MCO within the Government Organisation Structure Exisisting location

11 MCO MINISTER FOR ENERGY AND MINERALS DEPUTY MINISTER FOR ENERGY AND MINERALS PERMANENT SECRETARY Geological Survey COMMISSIONER FOR ENERGY DIRECTOR OF TANSORT COMMISSIONER FOR MINERALS PRINCIPAL OF MADINI INSTITUTE SUPPORT DEPTS. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR MINES ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR MINERAL DEVELOPMENT

12 New location Options Keep the status quo Create an independent, semi autonomous Government Agency Elevate the position of the MCO( one, two steps up) Theoretically simple but in practice there are many issues to consider Resources and sustainability (after the project) Amendment of the Mining Act Procedure of establishing new offices within the Government structure: outside the Ministry s jurisdiction Fear of losing power As a result up to now the MCO is still where it was

13 The challenges Rolling the system to 21 upcountry offices

14 The challenges How to deal with Primary mining Licences Primary Mining Licences applications are received and processed in zonal and Resident Offices, large scale licences at the HQ PMLs were issued without geographical coordinates, therefore could not be entered into FlexiCadatre Without capturing PMLs, impossible to observe the first come first served principle between primary and large scale licences Solution=field verification (re-surveying) of over 3000 PMLs

15 The Challenges Hard copy registry: central Registry at the HQ and sub-registries in 21 Zonal and Resident Offices Legal issues Garbage in, garbage out

16 Challenges Amendment of the Mining Act and Regulation Difficult procedure Many players involved outside the Ministry Better work within the existing legal framework and change the system as amendments are made

17 The challenges How to deal with changes in the Ministry Within five years 4 Heads of MCO 4 Commissioners and Acting Commissioners 2 Permanent Secretaries One National Election (consequences!) 4 Ministers

18 What do you do? Prayer Oh Lord, grant me the serenity to change what I can change and accept what I cannot change