Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA) has suspended operations at Coal and Minerals Group (CMG) in Karonga after investigations established threats to the health and safety of the public and the environment.
The inspection was jointly conducted by Karonga District Council, Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (Mepa), National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) and MMRA.
In its preliminary assessment, NWRA found evidence of coal waste from the mine being discharged into Changwina and Kasantha rivers, with parameters establishing that coal residues have contaminated water with toxic acids.
MMRA director general Mphatso Chikoti, in a letter to CMG dated April 8 2026, said the company also failed to maintain key operational documents, including a mining operations plan, mine waste management plan and a rehabilitation and closure plan as prescribed by the Mines and Minerals Act (MMA) of 2023.
Reads the letter in part: “This emergency suspension order is issued because the authority is convinced that the health and safety of the public and the environment are seriously threatened.
“Evidence of coal-associated waste discharge into the Changwina and Kasantha rivers contravenes Section 268(2)(a), which mandates the protection of water and the environment as a condition of the mineral tenement.”
MMRA said the suspension will remain in force until immediate cessation of all discharge of untreated mine water into natural water bodies as well as construction of properly engineered and approved tailings storage facilities.
Further, the authority said under Section 29 (8) of the MMA failure to comply is a criminal offence attracting fines of up to K30 million, additional K1 milion daily penalties and up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Mepa spokesperson Aubrey Chirwa said their assessment also discovered poor site engineering, unapproved designs, safety lapses, and that heavy coal trucks have degraded local roads.
He said Mepa was still in its formative stages; hence, not able to undertake regular inspections due to lack of resources.
Said Chirwa: “Mepa has just started setting its foot on the ground starting from last year. For now, the authority is still operating with lean staff. However, with additions of interns and trainees it’s really trying its best.
“We rely on borrowing vehicles and when they are busy, it becomes difficult. We have now procured two vehicles, but still, just two vehicles for the whole nation is not enough.”
Yesterday, CMG administrative manager Brian Mwangonde refused to grant an interview, but last week the company’s managing director Manowa Mkandawire said they had initiated a “thorough assessment to better understand the situation and establish the facts”.
Environmental law expert Ahmed Mussa said while both the MMA and EMA provide for monitoring and inspection of mining companies, the concern is enforcement of these provisions.
In a separate interview, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences associate professor of environmental health Save Kumwenda urged mining companies to have environmental officers that would monitor waste management.
From K5.07 billion in 2025/26, the government has this year allocated K5.58 billion to MMRA while Mepa was given K1.74 billion from K1.4 billion last fiscal year and NWRA K550 million from K500 million last fiscal year.
Karonga District Council spokesperson George Mponda said the council will work closely with regulatory bodies so that all concerns are thoroughly addressed before activities resume.
On his part, NWRA spokesperson Masozi Kasambala said management is expected today to meet over the matter, including determining penalties.
