Muslim body tips communities on mining
Qadria Muslim Association of Malawi has sensitised Kangamkundi community in group villagehead Makolela in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chanthunya in Balaka on mining issues as one way of enlightening them on the Mining Policy.
The association’s coordinator Biswas Ishmael said the meeting highlighted mining issues to avoid misunderstandings when the investor is not doing what he promised.
He said most investors in the mining sector come with good promises but they fail to fulfil them; hence, disagreements arise with communities.
Said Ishmael: “Some investors just disappear without fulfilling their corporate social responsibilities when their projects come to an end.
“Others leave big dams which are hazardous to communities in the form of accidents or floods.”
On his part, Chanthunya said the sensitisation meeting at the right time as the district is attracting investors in the mining sector.
He said despite this positive development, citizens and other stakeholders in the district lack the knowledge on how they can engage mining investors if they are not doing what they promised.
“We have seen a lot of mining activities happening in my area and recently, we lost a child who drowned in the drainage which an investor left without clearing the dam.
“Some just come to collect samples and disappear for years. The community has not benefited much. We want that to change so that communities can benefit from such investments,” said Chanthunya.
The Muslim grouping is implementing a one-year project called Amplifying the Voices and Participation of Women in Mining, to empower women to take part in mining activities.
The project, funded by the Southern Africa Trust to the tune of K25 million, is being implemented in T/As Chanthunya, Nsamala and Phalula where a lot of mining are taking place in Balaka District.
