Karonga communities want share of Lake Malawi oil revenue
People of Karonga and Chitipa districts have joined forces in asking their district councils to formulate by-laws that can make it easier for communities to collect revenue from mining companies ahead of the exploration of oil and gas on Lake Malawi expected to commence this month.
Karonga Forum for Oil and Gas Secretary General Wavisanga Silungwe told Nyasa Times in an interview that they had “already discussed the matter with the two councils [Chitipa and Karonga].”
Silungwe said that the oil and gas companies were welcome to the district only if they would comply with the bylaws.
“The by-laws on mine issues will allow us to collect yearly revenue from mine companies as it is done with other business operators. We want a certain percentage of money generated from the mines to go to our district councils,” said Silungwe.
Senior Group Village Headman Mwakhwawa of Karonga said they would “not allow” to be given a raw deal as was the case with the Paladin Africa Limited (PAL).
He commended Karonga Forum for Oil and Gas for “working for the community.”
The current constitutional provision bars communities to get a share of revenue collected from miners directly from the mining companies, but only through government subversion.
Karonga Forum for Oil and Gas, however, wants the provision re-thought.
President Peter Mutharika recently lifted a ban on the oil and gas exploration exercise on Lake Malawi which has been in place since 2015.
Mutharika suspended oil and gas exploration on the lake in 2014 because of allegations that the awarding of licenses to foreign companies was dubiously done.
The lifting of the ban will now allow oil and gas firms to start prospecting for the hydro-carbons.
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The people of Karonga are not saying central govt will not have oil revenues. Most of the revenues will still go to central govt but Karonga want say 10% of it to go to the district directly. We have seen how dpp enriched themselves and the south using the Karonga uranium mine money but neglecting Karonga. They have made many secret deals with the Chinese using Karonga uranium to benefit themselves and the south. This should not happen again or else… After all if environmental disasters occur, who will suffer most? It is the same Karonga people who will suffer,… Read more »
Honestly i do not see the connection between “low iq”of mlophwana and kudyelera kwa mlopwana, of course i am yet to learn the experiment conducted that certified mlopwana has'”low iq” . its high time you learn to raise your issues without offending someone. Otherwise, this behavior nurtures the mindset that you guys are arrogant and selfish.
Great decision … Malawi must move on now. ..donors have been playing games for so long with our lives. But let the people benefit from the cake not like how Paladin cheated them. Bravo Undule for your efforts in making the people be prepared for the project. You are just a unique and blessed man UDK. what ever you want and touch works for you. Your colleagues might be fighting you but you are just an Annointed leader Man. Whether they like it or not but UDK is a man of the people. May the Lord continue to favour and… Read more »
Total nonsense, and that can never happen
since when Lake Malawi has become Lake Kalonga?
In south africa government has used money fron mining to pay for loans taken to build roads and to build housing (flats being belt by chinese)in all squatter camps
Indeed this forum itha kuthanndiza pa nkhani ya zachuma chamgodi expecially pa cooperate social responsibility.Tiyene nawo nanga anthu aku Rumphi,mafumu ma MP mabungwe enawa mukuti bwanji? Tulo anthu aku mpoto izizi zikanakhala ku BT THYORO bwezi zinthu zitasintha gwiritsirani ntchito dencentralisation wake up u people.Enanu what lessons have u learned from Mchenga Coal Mine in Ru? Kukumba Malasha 31years palibe chimene community yapindulapo kapena konsolo
that’s it my pipo…go ahead otherwise no mining en no oil refining… it doesn’t make sense kumapanga erode anthu a ku karonga kumadyera alopwana….
mungomanga mpanda around nyanjayo……
It is lake malawi not lake karonga
movement iliyonse yothandiza a mlophwana imayamba kumpoto. way to go brothers!!!