Coal miner, villagers sign MoU for resettlement

Eland Coal Mine Company and communities in Group Village Head Mwabulambo in Karonga have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will govern the resettlement of the villagers to pave the way for mining activities in the area.

The two parties, through Karonga District Council, signed the agreement on Thursday at the council’s offices in the presence of Paramount Chief Kyungu, civil society organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders.

“The Karonga district council enters into this memorandum of understanding with the development partner [Eland] for the provision of the services by the development partner and for which the council is empowered by the Local Government Act 1998 and any other written law and/or policies,” reads the MoU.

The agreement obliges the mining company to build houses for people of the area in a yet-to-be-identified relocation site, compensate them fairly, build school blocks, teachers’ houses and upgrade a local health centre.

The MoU is binding for five years.

The deal was reached following disagreements over the last six years between the mining company and people of the village.

The locals feared that the firm would be using a coal extracting machine called auger to drill horizontally into the earth beneath their houses and farms to extract coal.

But the company has allayed the fears, saying the machine will not pose any risks to people’s homes.

After lobbying and advocacy by the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and other stakeholders, the company and the locals resolved to sign the MoU.

But speaking after signing the agreement, Village Head Mesiya, who leads one of the affected villages, expressed dissatisfaction with the MoU.

“I don’t think my people will be happy with this signing because there is no assurance that the company will build the houses.  The other problem is that they [Eland] have not addressed our concerns satisfactorily,” said Mesiya.

However, Eland head of sales and marketing Mayamiko Mwinjilo assured the villagers that the company would keep its promises.

“We understand that they may have fears and reservations, maybe because of past experiences, but we are sure to fulfil our promises,” said Mwinjilo.

Eland Coal Mine covers a distance of 18 square kilometres (9km long and 2km wide) in Mwabulambo area. It was established in 2006 but started its activities in 2008.

The company exports its coal to Tanzania and Kenya.

Mzimba teacher arrested for raping teen

A teacher at Mtuzuzu Primary School in Mzimba is in police custody over allegations that he raped a 16-year-old girl from Vakaza Village in the district.

Mzimba Police spokesperson sergeant Gift Nyirongo identified the suspect, who was arrested Thursday, as Jollen Ndhlovu, 35, from Mapupu Village, T/A Mzukuzuku in the district.

“The teacher went to the home of the victim where he was taking locally brewed beer. When the suspect saw the girl leaving home to draw water at the borehole, he followed her.

“Some people were suspicious of the suspect when he was leaving the place and they tipped off the girl’s father who caught the suspect red-handed in the nearby bush,” he said.

Nyirongo said rape and defilement cases are rampant in the district, a situation that has prompted police to launch a campaign to sensitise parents and guardians on how they can protect their children from rapists.—Mana