The ministry of Natural Resourses, energy and mining is fully set to hold a final consultative conference on Mines and Minerals Act that is currently under review.
The workshop is expected to take place on Tuesday, April 14 to 15 in the capital Lilongwe where stakeholders will have opportunity to contribute tangible ideas to the proposed bill with the current Mines an Minerals Act which was enacted since 1981.
This comes barely a month after chiefs and civil society organisations (CSOs) asked Malawi government to suspend issuing exploration and mining licences pending Mines and Minerals in a bid to contain shabby deals and enhence transparency in mining aimed at bringing proceeds and benefit to Malawians.
In a press statement, Ben Botolo Secretary for Natural Resources, Energy and Mines, said stakeholders in mining industry have been invited to contribute towards the amendment of bill to address challanges affecting the sector.
“The ministry attaches great importance to the participation of all stateholders in the review of this important legal instrument for the mining sector”, says Botolo.
The workshop will draw participants from mining companies, high commissioners, developmental partmers, commercial banks, traditional leaders and CSOs.
In responding to the invitation, Elyvin Nkhonjera Chawinga, Actionaid Malawi, Mining Project Coordinator, applauded government for allowing concerned stakeholders in the sector saying their input should be take on board which will help poor Malawins to start benefiting from mining proceeds.
“We want loyaties should go directly to communities where mining activities are happening. Not only that but also finding possible ways on how government and companies are going to consult the communities for an improved working relationship”, urges Chawinga
