Operational Equality
Embracing Founding Values for Social Impact.
Founding Provisions
Africa Mercantile Group is founded on a set of values and principles to promote and advance social justice and fundamental human rights, to lay the foundations for an open society operating in an ethical and transparent market, in which an improved quality of life is attained for all persons, and to foster the potential of each person to participate in a sustainable trade; and build an environment that promotes people to become part of a framework based on the rule of law, human rights, individual accountability and responsible environmental considerations.
By complying with the values and principles described in Africa Mercantile Group’s founding Constitution, we contribute positively to the lives of many, while securing our long-term business success and guaranteeing at all times a consistently fair and responsible treatment of all persons, communities, stakeholders, and the natural resources.
The essential foundation of all transactions, operations and internal directives of Africa Mercantile Group is compliance with its Constitution and the highest standards of ethical and moral conduct, in addition to all internal policies and procedures.
The Constitution is founded on the values of Human dignity, the achievement of economic equality and the advancement of human rights, non-unjustified discrimination, and the rule of law (local and international) and the supremacy of its Constitution above all other internal policies; procedures and directives.
Africa Mercantile Group at all times must promote the values that underlie an open and transparent society and economic trade environment, based on human dignity, equality and socio-economic upliftment.
When developing internal policies, procedures and practices, Africa Mercantile Group promotes the spirit, purport and objects of its Constitution.
Ubuntu: Our Moral North Star
Similar to any other ideology, Ubuntu represents a way of thinking and a way of life, signifying humanity towards others. Defining Ubuntu can be challenging due to its dynamic nature. It has been described in various ways, encompassing aspects of African philosophy that include concepts such as humanness, respect for humanity, moral virtue, interconnectedness, compassion, group solidarity, and group-centered individualism.
Ubuntu emphasizes the welfare of the most vulnerable. Additionally, it has been explained through popular African maxims such as “umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu,” interpreted as “a person is a person because of other people,” or “I am because we are.” This concept is encapsulated in African maxims like “motho ke motho ka batho ba bangwe,” conveying the idea that “people live through the help of others,” and “a botho ba gago e nne botho seshabeng,” which means “let your welfare be the welfare of the nation.”
Our Commitment
Africa Mercantile Group strives to achieve sustainable socio-economic development and a positive impact in all spheres of its operations. We aim to create shared value for the communities in which we operate by way of both the direct economic impact well as our wider socio-economic contributions.
We are involved in multi-tiered collaborations and engagements, from grassroots projects with small rural communities to complex initiatives with multiple corporate stakeholders.
With our grassroots engagements, we are given firsthand insights into the needs and challenges of society, and the most economically vulnerable. These concerns and challenges range from unsafe mining practices, no alternative to the use of hazardous materials (Mercury etc.), child labour, discriminatory compensation for production, lack of access to markets, lack of access to financial markets and financing and credit products etc.
We have created opportunities where communities have benefited from both economic and social opportunities. We collaboratively engage in community development programmes to address these concerns by introducing and promoting better mining practices, formalizing financial affairs for small and artisanal producers, sourcing funding for modernized/safer mining equipment, sourcing working capital to expand operations, providing fair and transparent market access with fair compensation, as well as the elimination and prevention of child labour. Africa Mercantile Group is an ardent supporter of the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour and Forced Labour (IPEC+).