Mulanje citizens give mining explorers ultimatum
Despite the Malawi High Court in Blantyre granting permission to Springstone Limited to continue with mineral explorations in Mulanje, concerned citizens have warned the explorers not to abide by the order if they are to avoid unforeseen circumstances.
On Tuesday, the concerned citizens, led by Mulanje Pasani legislator Peter Nowa and comedian Bon Kalindo, aka Winiko, marched from Chitakale Trading Centre to Mulanje Township where they presented a petition to district commissioner Jack Ngulube at his office.
After receiving the petition, Ngulube announced that he would take it to the Office of the President and Cabinet, who will send it to relevant authorities.
In the petition, the concerned citizens have given the mining explorers seven days to stop their activities or face action.
“We demand the removal of these companies within seven days and failure to do so will mean going against our rights and freedom of expression as stipulated in our Constitution. We will have no any other option but to use other available means to make these companies leave the mountain,” said the petition.
Asked what available means the group will take against the mining explorers, Kalindo said they could go traditional.
“We are Africans and we believe in traditional medicine. If they don’t go, we will be forced to use traditional medicine,” said Kalindo.
Nowa alleged that the mining companies gave them money to backtrack.
