Malawi tree-planting launch marred by anti-Paladin protests
The launch of Malawi’s national tree-planting season turned into a Black Thursday parade with Karonga residents hoisting placards in protest to a reported leakage at Kayerekera Uranium Mine.
On Thursday morning, Minister of Mines, Energy and Natural Resources Atupele Muluzi joined Malawians in a reforestation drive at Bwiba Primary School in the shoreline district where people have blaming uranium mining for mysterious death of fish in Lake Malawi.
However, the civil society and their groupies hijacked the ceremony and waved placards in the minister who took it on his chin to read each and every banner, saying: “Thanks, point taken.”
In the flurry of posters was a poster proclaiming: “We say NO to dump of radioactive material in our rivers and fresh-water Lake”
On Tuesday, Paladin Malawi managing director Greg Walker informed the minister of a minor damage at Kayerekera’s run-off tank leading to a discharge of some material into surrounding areas.
The placards also welcomed Muluzi to an interface with the residents at Maghemo Secondary School on Thursday night, just hours after the minister had returned from a fact-finding tour of Kayerekera.
During the encounter, he told the residents “all was not well at Kayerekera” and “there were mistakes that were made”, but the investigations would continue to get to the bottom of the leakage.
“Government’s job is to protect Malawians and we will ensure Paladin pays the full price in case of negative side-effects,” stated Muluzi.
Among other things, the protestors are also demanding Walker’s exit.
A poster said to have been conceived by Kyungu read: “We don’t want Greg Walker. [He] is a Killer!”
In an interview on Thursday morning, Kyungu said Walker should pack and go because he is killing Malawians by downplaying the impact of the leakage at Kayerekera.
When asked about the situation at the country’s largest mine, Kyungu rapped Walker: “The impact of the tragedy at Kayerekera will not be felt now, but in future. We don’t want Greg Walker. He is a killer. He is killing Malawians. He is not telling the truth.
“This is not Australia. This is Malawi. Karonga to be specific. He should stop playing with lives.”
The minister granted the Natural Resources Justice Network permission to go to inspect Kayerekera after they were denied entry on December 27 and on Wednesday when it was announced that the tank was leaking.
Walker says Paladin has done necessary tests and taken remedial measures to contain the effects of the tank damage, a step the minister confirmed.
