About 33 local and international non governmental organisations under the umbrella of National Resource Justice Network (NRJN) that are working in the mining sector have complained that government is doing little in implementing reforms in the sector.
The organisation feel reforms can be the best means to assist locals who are not benefiting from the mining industry because apparently favors big investors.
NRJN chairperson Kossam Munthali said if the new government will continue slowing the reforms, cases of corruption will continue in the sector.
Munthali who is also Executive Director of Foundation of Community Support Services(Focus), said conflicts between investors and communities will also continue in different areas where mining activities are happening due to failure to fulfill corporate social responsibilities requirements.
”As the country we can do better. it has been a song of reforms since 2006 but no government seems serious to work on it. There is wealth in the mining industry and it can help to grow the economy of properly handled.” Munthali said.
Minister of Mining Rashid Gaffar said his ministry is serious about mining reforms and that currently they are in the process of finding better ways of how Malawians can benefit from the sector.
”Malawi is the only country that has not benefited much from mining, so we are really trying to work on it. That is the reason why wherever i go to visit mining activities, i am assuring people that we want to put in place initiatives of making sure locals benefit from minerals in their locations,” Gaffar said.
Among others NRHN wants Mines and Mineral Act section 38 to be reviewed apparently because it promotes secrecy on reports investors have to present to the nation regarding their operation.
NRJN says the secrecy contradicts the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative and the Access to Information Act.
The Daily Times_August 13, 2020_Samuel Kalimira