Who controls our natural resources, who benefits from them, and how do decisions about them affect our everyday lives? These questions shaped the October edition of the Make It Make Sense TikTok LIVE, hosted by @masukuallan , with contributions from @Imaniluvanga , @BeatusMsamange @WillieOeba , and @Sambannz @SharonOcola. The conversation, lnkd.in/dWWFaPah , explored how natural resource governance extends beyond the extraction of minerals, timber or other materials. It also concerns the rules, institutions and decisions that determine how resources are managed, who benefits, and who carries the costs. Luvanga connected natural resources to everyday life, from water and food to electricity and the materials used in mobile phones. The challenge she expolored natural resources are managed in ways that respond to people’s needs. Msamange explained the roles of governments, companies, communities, civil society and journalists in this process. In Malawi, for example, the Mines and Minerals Act of 2023 and the Malawi Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative offer starting points for understanding how the sector is regulated and how information about it can be accessed. The discussion also highlighted the tension between environmental protection and people’s livelihoods. Banadda questioned whether restricting charcoal use is a practical solution when alternatives such as gas remain unaffordable for many households. This raised a broader question: how can policies protect natural resources while recognising the economic realities of the communities that depend on them? During the myth-and-fact segment, Khato challenged the assumption that countries automatically become wealthy because they have abundant natural resources. Resource wealth does not necessarily translate into better public services or improved livelihoods. How resources are managed, how revenue is accounted for, and whether citizens can hold decision-makers accountable all matter. Oeba brought the conversation back to citizens’ rights and participation, highlighting the importance of access to information and meaningful public involvement in decisions that affect communities and the environment. A key lesson from the LIVE is that natural resource governance is not only the responsibility of governments or experts. Citizens need accessible information, opportunities to participate, and ways to question decisions about resources that shape their present and future. This conversation was part of Make It Make Sense, a campaign organised by Accountability Lab East and Southern Africa (ALESA) and Nuru Trust Network. The campaign aims to turn complex governance issues into conversations everyone can understand, connecting public policy to everyday experiences and encouraging more informed participation in decisions that affect communities.

Who controls our natural resources, who benefits from them, and how do they shape our communities and livelihoods? Join us for the October edition of Make It Make Sense as we unpack natural resource governance and explore why the way we manage our resources matters to all of us. 📅 15 October 2026 ⏰ 6 PM CAT | 7 PM EAT 📍 TikTok LIVE on Zim Decoded Let’s turn complex issues into conversations everyone can understand. @Imaniluvanga @BeatusMsamange @WillieOeba @KathoSharonOcola @NuruTrustKenya #makinggovernancework4thepeople

#MakeItMakeSense: Why is corruption still holding Africa back? Join @AccountLab East and Southern Africa and @NuruTrustKenya Network for a live X Spaces conversation on Scaling Integrity & Accountability Across Africa as commemorate African Anti-Corruption Day. The conversation will examine the role of integrity, accountability and transparency in strengthening governance across the continent while creating space for young people to engage with the Make It Make Sense campaign's July anti-corruption challenge. 🗓 14 July 2026 ⏰ 11:00 AM–12:00 PM CAT (12:00–1:00 PM EAT) 📍 X Spaces Set a reminder and join the conversation: xitter.cf/i/spaces/1oKMvvamVrRGQ… Be part of the conversation and share your perspectives on advancing integrity and accountability across Africa. #MakeItMakeSense #makinggovernancework4thepeople #AntiCorruptionDay