LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has called on Malawians to remain vigilant and actively report suspicious activities involving foreign nationals amid growing concerns over illegal mineral exploration in the country.
The call follows the arrest of five foreign nationals by the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) on May 20, 2026, in connection with alleged illegal mineral prospecting activities in the southern region of Malawi.
According to CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa, the arrests should serve as a wake up call for citizens to play a greater role in protecting the country’s mineral resources from exploitation.
The five suspects, identified as Russians Badalyan, Rushan Nersisyan, Andreir Sklyarchuk, Mark Sklyarchuk and Aleksel Latcyk, are reportedly linked to Baze International Limited and Avro International Limited.
Namiwa said the arrests were made possible through cooperation between the Ministry of Mining and Energy and the Artisan Gold Miners Association, which recently pledged to assist authorities with intelligence on illegal mining activities.
The commitment was reached during a meeting between Minister of Mining and Energy Jean Mathanga and leaders of artisanal miners led by James Kudazala, where both parties agreed on the need to safeguard Malawi’s mineral resources.
According to CDEDI, a week after the meeting, the organisation received information that six foreign nationals suspected to be Russians were staying at a lodge in Chikwawa under suspicious circumstances.
The group allegedly stayed at the lodge for three weeks and reportedly denied staff access to their rooms throughout their stay, raising concerns among observers.
After receiving the tip, CDEDI alerted relevant authorities, leading to the MDF operation that resulted in the apprehension of the suspects.
The governance watchdog has since urged hotel and lodge operators across the country to report unusual behaviour by guests, saying the hospitality industry has a critical role to play in protecting national interests.
Meanwhile, CDEDI has appealed to government to strengthen the Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA), claiming that several key positions within the institution remain vacant or are occupied by officers on secondment, affecting its effectiveness.
Namiwa has also renewed calls for the government to revoke quarry mining licences issued to foreign nationals and cancel exploration licences that have exceeded three years, stressing that Malawi’s mineral wealth must be preserved for the benefit of current and future generations.
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