Malawi Ngoni chief Mabilabo slams Global Metal Mining

February 5, 2015 Alfred Chauwa –Nyasa Times Be the first to comment

Inkosi Mabilabo Jere  of Mzimba and his community has asked management of Global Metals and Mining who are behind Kanyika Niobium Mine to pack up their equipment and go for their failure to provide social and economic demands.

Chief Mabulabo: Slams Globe Metals
Chief Mabulabo: Slams Globe Metals
Ngoni's concerned Kanyika Niobium mining project may affect the environment with not much benfit to the community
Ngoni’s concerned Kanyika Niobium mining project may affect the environment with not much benfit to the community

The Kanyika Niobium Mine will be the first of its kind in Africa but the fourth in the world after two other mines in Brazil and one in Canada.

With a projected life span of 20 years and an annual output of 3000 metric tonnes of Niobium metal, the Mine is expected to rake in US$180million (MK50 billion) per year in revenues and employ 2000 Malawians in the construction phase and 800 operations start.

The communities want the company to leave their soil until all their demands are met.

Speaking in an a telephone interview  with Nyasa Times from his base at Emfeni in Mzimba, Inkosi Mabilabo said he is not happy that up to now there is nothing happening in the area regarding the welfare of his people.

“My people are suffering, they were told to shift from the area to other place , yes they can shift but how can they go without being given compensation.

“What the community is demanding is that the company should go first and come when they are ready to fulfil social responsibility,” said Inkosi Mabilabo Jere.

The community is also demanding the construction of a hospital and that the company establish local mining school.

On top of that the community also is demanding portable water and the company should not use 1960 compensation act which values fruit trees at K3.00.

But when contacted on Sunday 2 February 2015, Company Country Director  Chrispine Ngwena could not respond to the questionnaire which Nyasa Times sent him as demanded.

Ngwena is on record having said that the delay by Mmbelwa district Council in conducting verification exercise in order to determine the real beneficiaries was delaying the whole process.

The Kanyika Mining project is the second major mining operation in the country after the Kayelekera Uranium Mine in Karonga district.

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