‘Malawians should benefit from mining industry’

Presidential aide on Civil Society Organisations and on NGOs, Mabvuto Bamusi, say the Head of State wants Malawians to fully benefit from the mining industry.

Bamusi addressing the gathering
Bamusi addressing the gathering
Chiefs at the mining conference
Chiefs at the mining conference

Bamusi was speaking in Lilongwe during an extraordinary Alternative Mining Indaba which CSOs organised with support from Norwegian ChurchAid, Action Aid, Oxfam and other developing partners.

The indaba was a follow up to the one which took place in 2014 which was organised to enable civil society and community to have one voice regarding mining bordering on, inclusiveness, transparency and accountability in the mining sector.

In his message, Bamusi said the President has demonstrated his stand by committing himself to Extractive Transparency Initiative (EITI).

“The President has committed himself to EITI so that Malawi should become an EITI country. This impresses that Malawi has taken a bold step to commit towards transparency and accountability in the mining sector,” he said.

Bamusi said.”As we speak Malawi is part and parcel of EITI and that once all requirements are satisfactory done, we will graduate to become the fully fledged EITI country.”

According to Bamusi, Malawi’s commitment to the body means that the Mining industry will be required to disclose information about their mining operations in Malawi which will include taxes remitting to government and the profit.

“It’s the act of disclosure which allows mining companies to operate transparently, and EITI is the only step towards sustainable development and use of mineral wealth,” he said.

During the meeting,  Bamusi urged CSOs to pursue dialogue and constructive criticism in  resolving any differences that may arise within the mining sector.

This  year’s National Alternative Mining Indaba was held on 2 and 3 February  at the Bingu International Conference Centre,  and the Natural Resources Justice Network organised the Indaba under the theme : ‘Making Laws Work for the People: Effective Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for Malawi’s Extractive Sector.”

During the meeting various mining experts gave presentations and experience shared from actors across the sector.

Parliamentarians, traditional leaders, government officials, representatives from mining, oil and gas companies, academics, the media, and civil society attended the high level mining Indaba.

Some of the issues discussed during the Indaba  include effective Legal and Regulatory Frameworks in mining industry, Indispensable for the Extractive Sector in Malawi.

The Importance of  Prior and Informed Consent on issues of displacement, resettlement, compensation, women and children, corporate social responsibility.

Issues of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Malawi and Mapping of the minerals and potential hot spots of mining in Malawi.

Some of the well known faces at the Indaba include Inkosi M’mbelwa of the Mzimba Ngonis, Inkosi Gomani of Maseko Ngoni, Paramount chief Kyungu and many more others.

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