Following on from last weeks article about the situation in Zimbabwe, I noticed that the Poverty Matters Blog on the Guardian website has an interesting article about conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
It outlines some of the deep complexities involved in development in such fragile states. Imposing measures to control the flow of minerals and precious stones are intended to avoid the continued funding of conflict in the region. This conflict has resulted in horrific damage to many communities and mass atrocities, driving people further and further into poverty. The consequence of placing restrictions on the sale of minerals, however, include a loss of income for small-scale artisinal miners, making it harder for them to earn a living. These complexities are an example of the difficult decisions to be made within development work.
