Mining
CSOs hold alternative mining indaba in Balaka
August 08, 2025 / Wahard Betha
Rashid: The meeting was organized to give an opportunity to communities
Civil Society Organization (CSO) operating in the extractives sector under the banner of Natural Resources Justice Network (NRJN) convened a district alternative mining indaba in Balaka aimed at giving local and affected communities an opportunity to appreciate mining processes, laws and benefits in the mining sector.
The meeting which was organized under the theme of ‘Promoting Unity and Collaboration to Safeguard Mining Benefits’ attracted officials from the Ministry of Mining, Malawi Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative (MWEITI) Secretariat, Civil Society Networks, Traditional Leaders and members of the local community including women and youth.
Coordinator for Natural Resources Justice Network (NRJN) Kennedy Rashid said the meeting was organized upon realizing the community engagement gap in the districts, which hosts a number of mining projects.
Rashid said: “The meeting was organized to give an opportunity to communities that have not been able to engage with duty bearers. Basically, also to give them a chance to appreciate the benefits and illicit financial flows that are happening within their areas.”
“There are so many mining activities that are happening within their areas but they are not benefitting.”
Director General for Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA) Samuel Sakhuta lauded the meeting saying it is essential in ensuring that mining activities benefits the locals.
Sakhuta also said the meeting has exposed him to some of the challenges that the communities are facing and pledged to address them as soon as possible.
He said: “The importance of this meeting cannot be overemphasized. It has managed to put together thoughts of the government, the people and even the CSOs themselves on how mining is supposed to be done.”
“It has clearly shown that many companies here are not in good relationship with the communities and there is lack of intervention from us, government.”
Sakhuta said some of the disputes are minor but by taking too long to address them, government has made the situation worse.
“My commitment is to address those issues very soon as mining is not there to victimize people,” he said.
Representative for Malawi Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative (MWEITI) Secretariat, Leonard Mushani, applauded the organizers for the meeting saying it acted as a platform for sensitizing the communities on EITI standards and achievements made by the body.
Mushani said: “This meeting is very significant to MWEITI because for the very first time we have seen people and CSOs going through and analyzing our reports in different ways telling us the challenges, and what we have done well which is very encouraging.”
“Since we became a member of EITI in 2015, it has been difficult for us to reach out to communities with our reports, and we feel such indaba has come at an opportune time as we have just finalized the seventh report. Representing Senior Chief Chanthunya, Scale Mose said the indaba is an eye opener to the entire community.
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Rehabilitation:
The establishment of a stable and self-sustaining ecosystem, but not necessarily the one that existed before mining began. In many cases, complete restoration may be impossible, but successful remediation, reclamation, and rehabilitation can result in the timely establishment of a functional ecosystem.
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Remediation:
The cleanup of the contaminated area to safe levels by removing or isolating contaminants. At mine sites, remediation often consists of isolating contaminated material in pre-existing tailings storage facilities, capping tailings and waste rock stockpiles with clean topsoil, and collecting and treating any contaminated mine water if necessary.
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