Mining CSOs drilled in movement building, solidarity
Action Aid Malawi and the Citizens For Justice, with funding from Tilitonse Fund, recently trained Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) plying their trade in mining sector in movement building and the power of solidarity.
The training, which took place at Hippo Lodge in Liwonde, was aimed at building capacity of CSOs in the Natural Resource Justice Network (NRJN) to pursue advocacy on mining issues.
Action Aid Malawi Mining Project cordinator Elyvin Nkhonjera said the two day training was also designed to increase CSOs understanding in campaigning and working in solidarity to influence change in mining governance.
Nkhonjera, in one of her presentation, challenged the participating CSOs to take part in decision-making in the institutions, programmes, and environments that affect them.
She also challenged the CSOs to champion the concept of conscientisation which she said is a process of enabling people to perceive the social, political and economic contradictions in their lives and to take action against these.
“You need to elevate people’s voice from the grassroots to those in power,” she told participants.
On his part, NRJN chairperson Kossam Munthali said he was certain that building capacity of CSOs in mining sector, would be crucial as CSOs would leverage on each other’s strength.
Munthali also dared the participating CSOs to continue providing an effective check on both the government and the mining companies to ensure that they conduct themselves in a manner that is transparent and accountable.
