Expert warns on Lake Malawi oil exploration

A renowned mining industry critic and Institute for Policy Interaction (IPI) executive director, Rafik Hajat, has spoken against an influx of licences for mining and exploration of oil on Lake Malawi.

According to Hajat, once the lake is polluted, it could take about 800 years to redeem it.

He issued the warning in Lilongwe last week during a debate on whether Malawians are benefiting from the current state of mining industry.

Hajat was one of the panellists during the debate and was speaking in the context of recent revelation that government, through the Ministry of Mines, has issued about 200 licences for mining and exploration on Lake Malawi, among others.

“If we continue on this path, Malawi stands to gain zero. The lake to me is precious than oil,” he said.

Hajat said Lake Malawi is sitting on vast natural resources such as fish; hence, catering for the ‘burgeoning’ population growth in the country.

“Natural resources are finite and once gone, you are done and we might turn the country into a resource curse. We need to utilise our natural resource in the right manner,” he said.

Hajat said it is high time Malawi reviewed its legal framework governing the mining sector which he described as archaic.

He also called for the harmonisation of various laws in the country such as the Taxation Act, Labour Act, Investment Act and Employment Act which he said are interrelated with the mining sector.

On his part, executive director for the Citizens for Justice, Reinford Mwangonde, noted that just like many African countries, Malawi is also undergoing what he described as a ‘Tsunami’ of exploration.

He said such a situation has excited government and communities where mining is taking place, but called for the need for mining agreements to favour communities.

Alex Mboma, a representative of Paramount Chief Kyungu of Karonga, who was also one of the panellists, gave a case study of Kayelekera Uranium Mine in Karonga which he said has not really benefited communities surrounding the mine since its inception.

The debate was held under the responsive governance for equitable and sustainable development of Malawi jointly implemented by Action Aid Malawi and the Citizen for Justice with funding from Tilitonse Fund.