‘Winiko’ faults Malawi High Court for vacating injunction without intra-party hearing

Renowned comedian, Bon Kalindo, who is leading a group referring to themselves as ‘Concerned Citizens’, has faulted the High Court for discharging an injunction that restrained Spring Stone Limited from carrying out its Rare Earth Elements (REE) Exploration on Mulanje Mountain without giving intra-party hearing a chance.

Led by Kalindo and Mulanje Pasani legislator Peter Nowa, the concerned citizens went to Blantyre High Court last December to obtain the injunction alleging that the company was engaged in environmentally destructive mining activities on the mountain.

On May 3, 2013, the High Court discharged the injunction after noticing that the company had been carrying out its activities on the mountain in accordance with the terms and conditions of its licence under a commitment to cause minimum disturbance of the environment and ensuring the conservation of the environment at Chambe Basin and the surrounding areas.

Bon' Winiko' Kalindo: Injunction removed
Bon’ Winiko’ Kalindo: Injunction removed

But reacting to this, Kalindo, who is widely known as Winiko, said the court should have called for intra-party hearing before proceeding to vacate the injunction at the expense of Concerned Citizens’ grievances.

Kalindo , who is deputy national publicity secretary of opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), also said they heard through the media that the High Court delivered its ruling on the matter.

He , therefore, vowed to challenge the court’s decision, saying they will not just sit and watch the attractive mountain being depleted by the company.

“We don’t want to be seen as difficult people or seen as if we are trying to advance some hostility against the company no; we are unhappy with its destructive mining activities on the mountain.

“The mountain belongs to us, Malawians as such; we cannot allow some company to destroy various natural trees covering the mountain. We are pretty aware that the mining activities will destroy the environment on the mountain and surrounding areas,” Kalindo said in an interview with Nyasa Times on Tuesday.

Following the removal of the injunction, the company said it will closely work with Malawi government to contribute effectively to the social and economic sustainable development.

Spring Stone Limited is a Malawi subsidiary of an exploration joint venture between Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation and Gold Canyon Resources Inc.

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