Chakwera vows to push for revised mining law in Parliament
President of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and leader of opposition in Parliament, Lazarus Chakwera has said he will push for the passing of the revised mines and minerals Bill in the next sitting of Parliament.
Chakwera meets Paramount Chief Kyungu in Karonga on Thursday before holding whistle-stop meetings for MCP
Chakwera speaking in the Northern Region during his whistle -stop meetings that there is mismanagement in the mining sector breeding corruption.
He said the law should favour the local people, saying mining companies should have shareholders of Malawians and clear corporate social responsibility to benefit the mining areas.
“We want local people to start benefitiing from the natural resources,” said Chakwera.
He said the local communities like Karonga were being deprived of the benefits of their natural resources as officials from the department of mines keep going to the mining area to collect huge amounts of deposits on the pretext of conducting a survey instead of coming on the open to declare whether the areas have precious stones or not.
The leader opposition noted that the entire property and control over all minerals in Malawi is vested in the President on behalf of the people of Malawi, saying this has to change.
“We need to stop the dealings between prospective corporations working in the extractive industry and the Malawi Government secret at State House. These dealings are supposed to be negotiated to promote the interests of the people of Malawi,” he said.
Chakwera said for the country to benefit from an extractive activity such as mining, there must be a legislative and policy framework that is deliberately structured to respond to all possible challenges in the process.
He adds that this ensures that benefits from the industry are equitably realised.
The 2007 Kayelekera development deal for uranium with Paradin was negotiated under the legislative direction of the 1981 Mines and Minerals Act. There was not even a mining policy then.
The Natural Resource Justice Network (NRJN), a group of CSOs that speaks on mining, however, proposes the need for Malawi to have a Mineral Development Corporation to consist of representatives of key government departments such as mines development, environmental affairs, finance, economic planning, lands, geological survey, civil society representative, law society and accountancy body.
“The corporation should have a board of directors, chief executive officers and management and again, it should be provided with functions which are mainly facilitating development, including investment decision making; negotiating mining agreements and setting the requisite investment targets and monitoring,” says Renfold Mwangonde, spokesperson for NRJN.
Meanwhile, government has been urged to take action against illegal gold mining by many foreigners.
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Amending the Mining Law won’t guarantee benefits flowing to ordinary people. Malawi is full of corrupt people both in the private and public sectors. These are people who will go at length to steal anything from the poor. The Mining Law in South Africa is probably one of the progressive laws which focuses on 30% indigenous black ownership with profound provisions for CSI; yet with all the provisions on paper, the industry is the most corrupt with the consequence that the ordinary people end up getting a raw deal especially where the actual mining takes place. I would advise, Honourable Chakwera, that you strengthen those state institutions that are entrusted with oversight roles including law enforcement agencies. The law should applied and follow to the tee and if not then there should be serious consequences. There’s nothing wrong with the current mining Law……it’s just lack of compliance. honourable Chakwera, remember, you can’t legislate morality and integrity.
Gold is a precious stone how could government allow illegal foreign miners. This is a pure joke
MCP bomaaaaaa!!!!!
Why didn’t MCO campaign on this mining platform in 2014? MCP lethargy is chronically embedded in the leadership please MCP seize the moment the DPP tent needs more space to accommodate extras to the point of currying favour with UDF MCP has been too complacent with being the main opposition party without generating people-centred policies. Am cheering the UTM on the podium yet my prayers do go for MCP. Our nation does have a will prepared set of policies which can lifted for our benefit that is why our chiefs have turned into prostitutes they are malleable no principles that can add value to our development. MCP wake up don’t go into a deep slumber
Kukamba kwa munthu wa mkulu , I hope Chilima is copying paja amatero ndidawonela mmene adakopela ya universal fertiliser subsidy from MCP manifesto.
Bravo Chakwera!
Which government will take action against illegal miners? You mean a government led by the man who sleeps on his job?
By the way, how are these foreigners flooding these Gold spots? How do they get into the country and how do they know detailed locations of mining spots?
Gold is a treasure that has to be handled at governmental level and not by artisanal miners. It’s either government has to negotiate a mining license with a major company or government itself can have a government-controlled mining company to do activities of exploration and exploitation. Illegal Gold trade can be a catalyst for arms dealing which means insecurity for the country and lawlessness.
From the stories that are emerging in many spots of Gold in Malawi’s districts, it seems the country has the potential to be one of the largest producers of Gold in the world-a huge potential revenue in the making. But why is the DPP government so mute on the whole issue? Does it understand areas of potential development? Why entertain foreigners who have no right to Malawi’s treasures? Do these authorities in government know that mineral wealth is a foundation to industrialization?
Any minerals existing in all corners of Malawi are a blessing to Malawian citizens and have to financially benefit them as such. Exploitation of such minerals on a commercial scale means fulfillment of the country’s economic potential and thereby improving people’s standard of living. Foreigners are coming to Malawi to improve their standard of living in their countries by tapping Malawi’s resources and exporting them to various markets abroad and sending proceeds to their countries. Do we really need foreigners from Rwanda, Tanzania etc. to get rich at the expense of deserving Malawians? Are we patriotic with ourselves? Or do we love our country? Can a Malawian do illegal mining in Tanzania or Mozambique?
Kamuzu might have been an autocratic leader but I miss him on issues like these. He never entertained nonsense like this. No foreigner could roam around in districts looking for treasures. The country is ruined under DPP.
DPP is the only beneficiary of mining products my dear!!
Good idea bwana leader of opposition, you have touched my heart once more after ACB director proposal.
Koka koka gwira gwira!! Mpaka lero under this Government we still not know kuti zilipati za Kayelekela, 4 years in power baba, chuma Cha ku Karonga chupindulira anthu Ena ku Thyoro ache Bwampini ndi azao a Maliseche, dzina ndilivela pompano don’t ask me where did I get this name, a chikopa Cha Nkhumba.
Chakwera ndi brazing fire baba.
Za zi zopanda mchere. Just to please CSOs. Chakwera is like he is Mtambo’s baby
Watchula kachikwama kako mchifukwa zakubowaaaaaaaaaaaa munya muona, the advantage is you’ve no control on time!! How many months now? Chakwera oyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
APM is sleeping. We all know this! hence asking him to take action is insane. Leave this old man alone and kick him out on the ballot.