Lime cooperative demands crusher

Chilumba Lime Cooperative in Traditional Authority (T/A) Wasambo in Karonga District has asked government to provide them with a crusher and connect electricity to the mine to improve production.

The cooperative’s acting secretary Alexander Munthali said this on Tuesday during a site visit the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of Karonga Diocese of the Catholic Church organised.

He said the site opened in 2009 but ceased operations 12 years ago.

Said Munthali: “We appeal for an electric crausher so that we graduate from manual operations.

“We also ask for electricity and rehabilitation of the road for easy accessibility to markets.

“Once we resume operations, the community will benefit through employment and other social services.”

In a separate interview, Ministry of Mining director of mining Samuel Sakhuta said the ministry through the Department of Mining bought a diesel-powered crusher which upon installation, the community demanded fuel from government.

He said: “The demand forced government to source a quotation from a prospective supplier which it obtained in 2014 but the process died a natural death because officers involved retired along the way.

“However, the diesel-propelled crusher was vandalised and right now, there is no recorded memorandum of understanding between government and the cooperative.”

CCJP desk officer Obert Mkandawire has since asked government to be transparent on the project right from the establishment of the cooperative in 2009 and how it has found itself in this mess.

With financial support from the Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurch Aid, CCJP is implementing Fighting Inequalities Project in T/As Wasambo and Mwakaboko in the district.