Mining & Trade News

Stakeholders in the extractive sector have expressed concern over the failure by the Ministry of Mining to conduct thorough and regular inspections of mining fields as a result of inadequate funding the Ministry receives from Treasury for its mandatory duties.

The stakeholders say despite efforts by the Ministry to ensure that mining zones adhere to health and safety measures, lack of funding remains a major challenge for the Ministry to visit many mines for inspection.

Mining expert and Consulting Geoscientist Ignatius Kamwanje said: “The Ministry lacks inspection. They are rarely on the ground due to low funding levels.”

“The Ministry has tried but not done enough to ensure mining companies adhere to precautionary measures.”

“The other major challenges impeding mine inspection work are lack of sensitization, engagement and capacity in terms of training in the sector; lack of equipment for inspection and; corruption.”

Concurring with Kamwanje, Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) Consultant Chikomeni Manda said poor inspection mainly in small scale mining areas is contributing to the challenge of lack of funding and capacity by ASMs.

Manda also blamed the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) for not fully executing its mandate of protecting and managing environment and natural resources in ASM mining sites.

Said Manda who is Managing Partner for Perekezi ASM Consulting: “When it comes to inspection by the Ministry, it is very poor. This is because the Ministry is poorly funded to curry out such tasks.”

“MEPA is also not doing enough when it comes to inspections. There is a lot of mercury use in ASM gold mining, which is a very dangerous substance to both humans and the environment.”

“The major challenge is in ASM, when it comes to medium, and large scale mine, it is better when it comes to precautionary measure, though there might also be some minor violations due to minimal inspections.”

He also called for more investment in resources and technology to ensure that miners comply with health and safety standards. In a separate interview, Coordinator for Chamber of Mines and Energy Grain Malunga said there is a need for a robust licensing system to ensure that licences are given to responsible investors who understand and utilize mine safety regulations.

“Proper licensing of exploration licenses using a set guidance is crucial to avoid political decisions that will give licenses to speculators and crooks,” said Malunga.

The concerns come barly months since the Ministry of Mining in conjunction with the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) launched Occupational Safety and Health Standards in Mining Sector.  

The standards are part of Malawi's commitment to Malawi 2063 blueprint and were developed under the Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health Systems Support Project (SATBHSSP) with backing of the World Bank.

Malawi joined Lesotho, Zambia and Mozambique to adopt such mining safety standards under the project which started in 2017 and ends this June.

Miners are exposed to a range of health occupational hazards psycho-socio, ergonomic, biological, physical and chemical that cause injuries, microbiological contamination, and acute and chronic disease like respiratory disorder.

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