Malawi Government agencies have arrested 400 people and seized tonnes of gemstones and grammes of gold during a month-long crackdown, authorities said yesterday.
Briefing the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Climate Change yesterday, Joint Task Force leader Major General Lackson Phiri from the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) said the operations were conducted between March and April this year in Mzimba, Dowa and Kasungu districts.
Leading a delegation of officials from Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Mining, Malawi Mining Investment Company (Mamico), MDF, Malawi Police Service and National Intelligence Service (NIS), he said those arrested included two Chinese and 10 Mozambicans who had been conducting illegal mining activities.
The mining sector currently contributes about one percent to gross domestic product, down from approximately 10 percent before the closure of Kayelekera Uranium Mine in Karonga in 2014, according to the 2026 Malawi Government Annual Economic Report.
Officials said they seized 117 metric tonnes (MT), which represent wealth that was leaving the country illegally at a time Malawi is struggling with foreign exchange shortages.
Phiri said the operation, dubbed ‘Operation Samala Mgodi’, to protect the country’s precious resources and its sovereignty achieving seven purposes that include disrupting illicit activities, apprehending actors, community cooperation, environmental evidence and mineral retention.
“The pilot phase has exposed structural friction points, intelligence gaps, operational security risks, complicity among some traditional authority leaders, and capacity issues in the Department of Mines. The joint task force is effective. When we are resourced and coordinated, we can achieve results,” he said.
Phiri faulted the country’s regulatory framework, which he said opens room for the proliferation of illegal mining, such as where individuals with expired licences continue their mining activities.
Ministry of Mining Principal Secretary Rodwell Mzonde said the task force’s findings point to areas that the ministry and other stakeholders need to work on if the country is to deal with the vice.
He said the ministry is almost through with a system audit that led to the suspension of licence issuances, adding that they will soon resume granting licences, which could wipe out illegal miners.
Sitting in for the committee chairperson, Bintony Kutsaira said the committee is committed to ironing out the gaps identified in the enforcement of illegal mining activities.
He noted that the committee was particularly interested in ensuring that mining personnel are available at the district level to curb illegal mining and enforce licensing regulations.
“We feel bad about what is happening. We are sometimes of the view that ministries are negligent, and this engagement was aimed at understanding the situation on the ground. We believe that this taskforce will go further, and we will push for its funding. It is our expectation that this operation will not be merely ad-hoc but will continue to help protect our minerals,” said Kutsaira.
In October last year, President Peter Mutharika issued an Executive order banning the export of raw, unprocessed minerals as the country gears up to develop its wide range of mineral resources. The order was followed by the formation of the joint task force, which was mandated to coordinate the safeguarding of mineral resources and curb illegal mining activities.
The mining sector is projected to grow by 5.9 percent in 2026 and 6 percent in 2027, according to the 2026 Annual Economic Report.
Malawi 2063, the country’s long-term development strategy prioritises mining as a key driver of economic development to propel the country toward upper middle income status by 2063.
