Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining has announced plans to conduct surface geological observation to identify minerals in the central region. According to the Acting Director of the Geological Survey Department Kondwani Dombola, they would soon start a Geological Mapping and Mineral Assessment Project (GEMMAP) whereby geologists would be going around to asses anomalies […]
Four presidential running mates on Thursday night took to the state at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) fielding questions from private owned Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) live on television and the public ahead of the May 21 2019 Tripartte Elections. Initially the debate was scheduled to have five panellits on the podium but ruling Democratic […]
Malawi mining and mineral processing plants are casting a blind eye to workers’ safety; and, thus contravening local and international safety codes on extraction and processing of the country’s natural resources, Nyasa Times has established. Visits to several mines and processing plants revealed the severity of the situation a horde of labourers have to go […]
President Peter Mutharika has assented to eight bills, including the Mines and Minerals law which is expected to bring sanity in the chaotic mining industry. This law will replace the 1981 Mines and Mineral Act which experts say has failed to deal with emerging issues facing the sector. The proposed Bill which is divided in […]
Malawi Police Services in Lilongwe have arrested two Sri Lankas after they were found with precious minerals including copper without valid documentation. Central region police spokesperson Norah Chimwala said Lilongwe Water Board officers had gone to the house of the Sri Lankas after allegations that the two were involved in illegal water connection in Area […]
Geological expert and former Minister of Mines and Energy, Grain Malunga says the local mining industry has the potential to surpass agriculture as the number one forex earner. For a very long time Malawi has depended on agriculture as the mainstay of its economy but of late there have been calls to look at alternatives and […]
Some civil society organisations are blaming the government for the rampant illegal mining across the country, saying the airborne geophysical survey report gave away places where minerals are found. The government has not yet released the report but the Natural Resources Justice Network executive director Kossam Munthali said the report is already in the hands […]
Directorate of Mines has urged communities and other interested groups to go and register cooperatives and associations with the Ministry of Trade in order for them to be issued with mining licences. Speaking at he was opening an international conference on artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) in Lilongwe, Director of Mining Jack Salima said […]
Lilongwe’s senior principal magistrate court on Friday acquitted all 20 Malawian illegal miners who were arrested in Lilongwe for mining along Nathenje river without licence, saying the state failed to prove its case against them. Magistrate Viva Nyimba said the state’s evidence was disjointed and did not warrant the conviction of the suspects most of […]
The state on Thursday brought to court 20 Malawian illegal miners who were arrested in Lilongwe for mining along Nathenje river without licence. Senior principal resident magistrate Viva Nyimba was however surprised to hear from a senior Energy ministry official that people can get a mining licence with as little as K3 000. Nyimba blamed […]
Government is set to deport 36 Mozambican illegal miners who were arrested in a Malawi Defense Force soldiers swoop in Namizimu forest in Makanjira, Mangochi in October. Immigration department eastern region officer Vivien Kasembo said the illegal miners are being deported following a court ruling in Zomba after they were arrested along with 300 others […]
Government has put the blame on illegal mining squarely on the feet of foreigners who are accused of hiring Malawians to do the actual mining job. A director in the ministry of Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Joab Salim said Malawians do not have the knowledge and capacity for mining. “These foreigners are always from […]
Malawi’s long-awaited Mines and Minerals Bill is to be tabled this sitting of Parliament, but key changes still need to be made. The law was drafted on the back of a loan from the World Bank. In 2015, those of us labelled ‘stakeholders’ such as miners, activists, academics, chiefs, civil servants and parliamentarians, gathered at […]
The Polytechnic, a constituent college of the University of Malawi, has introduced a new degree course related to mining to meet the country’s demand for professional minining engineers. The new programme is under the Faculty of Engineering. College principal Professor Grant Kululanga said the institution is rolling out government policies to diversify the economy to […]
Following allegations that circulated on social media recently that CP Feeds is carrying out illegal mining of gold about 50km west of the main road between Senzani and Phalula, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining deployed an expert team of investigators to the area and has since established that no such illegal act […]
Malawi Police in Lilongwe on Tuesday closed an illegal mine at Lumwila village in Nathenje area. A visit on Tuesday to the so called mine which locals call “Kansolole” found nobody but police officers at the scene. In an Interview with one of the locals, Eunice Stafford expressed worry on the closure of the mine […]
Malawi Police in Lilongwe have warned people of Chiwamba Village in Traditional Authority Chimutu against the illegal mining of gold in the area. Kanengo Police Station Coordinator, Inspector Perry Mpangeni said illegal mining is not acceptable in the laws of mining in Malawi. He said police has a duty to enforce laws, hence will not […]
Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers continue guarding Namizimu Forest reserve in Makanjira, Mangochi after all illegal miners were either chased away or arrested for unlawful mining of prescious stones. MDF spokesperson Paul Chiphwanya took a group of journalists to the forest, weeks after peace returned after the arrest of 133 illegal miners in a violent […]