Traditional Authority Kilupula of Karonga District has bemoaned illegal gold mining in his area, saying the practice has led to school dropouts among children.
He expressed the sentiments on Saturday at Mwenitete Teacher Development Centre when Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) and Small Producers Development and Transporters Association (Sprodeta) convened a meeting with community members in the area.
The chief commended the three organisations for engaging community leaders on gender-based violence, human rights, public expenditure tracking and livelihood programmes in his area.
| Jordan Simeon-Phiri
“However, let government clamp down illegal miners who are fuelling school dropout and also depriving government on taxes for socio-economic development,” said Kilupula.
Mweningolongo B Village Development Committee treasurer Oster Chipeta also echoed the chief’s concerns, saying the dropout rate at Nalutete Primary School due
to illegal gold mining was sad.
He said out of 16 learners that enrolled in January 2025 for Standard Eight class, 12 have dropped out, leaving four in class.
On her part, EAM Fighting Inequalities project coordinator Lusungu Mangochi said the report about school dropout at Nalutete Primary School was worrisome.
She said: “That observation is worrisome because it is coming despite intensifying awareness with stakeholders in the area.
“However, we will keep on the advocacy work to end child labour and violation of human rights in mining sites.”
Sprodeta project coordinator Silver Mtambo said the meeting was a continuation of a series of meetings held in T/As Wasambo and Kyungu where they distributed goats and taught people how to produce Mbeya fertiliser.
“We are just updating the community about the projects’ progress,” he said.
Karonga district community development officer Simeon Ndhlovu said his office will work with the District Education and Social Welfare offices to ensure that miners do not involve children in mining activities.
With a joint funding from Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid, EAM, MHRRC and Sprodeta are implementing projects in the area.
