(SADC) which was signed at Windhoek on 17th August, 1992. ARTICLE 2 GENERAL PRINCIPLES For the purpose of this Protocol the following principles shall apply: 1. Member States recognise that a thriving mining sector can contribute to economic development, alleviation of poverty and the improvement of the standard and quality of life throughout the Region. 2. Member States shall seek to harmonise national and regional policies, strategies and programmes related to the development and exploitation of mineral resources. 3. Member States agree to bear their own costs of participation in institutional mechanisms for the effective implementation of this Protocol except that the Mining Coordinating Unit administrative cost shall be borne by the hosting Member State. 4. Member States agree to decide all matters related to the implementation of the Protocol by consensus. 5. Member States agree to cooperate in facilitating the development of human and technological capacity. 6. Member States shall encourage the development, transfer and mastery of science and technology throughout the Region. 7. Member States shall encourage private sector participation in the exploitation of mineral resources. 8. Member States shall promote economic empowerment of the historically disadvantaged in the mining sector. 9. Member States agree that their governments and SADC shall improve the availability of public information to the private sector, Member States and other countries. 10. Member States undertake to jointly develop and observe internationally accepted standards of health, mining safety and environmental protection. ARTICLE 3 INFORMATION EXCHANGE 1. Member States shall coordinate their efforts in creating and managing a database on exploitable mineral resources in the Region. 2. Member States shall co-operate in capacity building in the creation of data dissemination media. 3. Member States shall encourage information dissemination and sharing through, among other things, the networking of institutions and industry. 4. Member States shall encourage multilateral research in compilation of mineral