Inkosi Mabilabo of Mzimba and the Foundation for Active Civic Education (FACE) have urged Government to decentralize the control of mining activities at district level.
They have observed that minerals are being depleted by artisans (small miners) who have no mining licenses but have found a market from licensed individuals and institutions.
And Inkosi Mabilabo said in an interview on Friday that the problem emanated from the fact that mining activities are solely handled at ministry headquarters.
“The District Commissioners would have been given the mandate to be monitoring issues of mining in their respective districts. If it is decentralized, the councils, local and traditional leaders can work hand in hand to protect the precious resources and control the illegal mining,” suggested Mabilabo.
The traditional leader also noted that lack of sensitization has had a negative impact on mining in the country.
“At times we find someone claiming to be a licensed mineral buyer and confront him or her to shows us a letter or a so called a license, however we question its validity as the Ministry of Mines did not come to us and show the sample of the license,” he stated.
“As communities around the areas where mining is taking place are supposed to benefit, government too. However nothing has been done because of centralized system as far as mining is concerned. Government could have been realizing more from these miners had it been that the system was decentralized,” added Mabilabo.
And Executive Director of FACE, Gizex Gizai said the situation has complicated mining issues, alleging that some licensed buyers are coaxing people to mine illegally.
“Here in Nsanje, we have Matandwe Forest Reserve which has a lot of natural resources including precious minerals. The minerals are being mined illegally by the communities and sold to licensed buyers. This is where now the government is promoting illegal mining,” said Gizai.
Gizai has since asked government to look into the issue before all minerals are depleted.
“We ask the government to issue buying licenses where there are individuals or companies that have also mining licenses. This is because if they only issue buying licenses, where will such individuals or companies get minerals? Automatically they buy from illegal miners like what is happening here in Nsanje,” pleaded Gizai.
Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Atupele Muluzi admitted the existence of the problem, but said the new mining law will address such challenges.
“It is true that the mining industry is facing a lot of challenges. There are more illegal miners however the current draft mining law will address almost all the challenges the industry has been facing.
“The draft once approved will give mandate to district councils to issue mining licenses to some artisans and monitor them. However the major miners will still be managed at central government,” said Muluzi.
