LILONGWE (MaraviPost)-Parliamentary Committee on Government Assurances and Public Reforms this week questioned the Ministry of Mining’s legality of MK21 million fine to Chinese smugglers being caught with minerals worth MK2 million
This comes as Mining Ministry sold the minerals at MK2 million but Chinese smugglers were caught with the same sample hence a hefty fine.
The committee chairperson Noel Lipipa told The Maravi Post in an interview that it was confusing to learn that the Chinese could sacrifice huge amounts of money for minerals that have no value.
Lipipa observes, “It’s very sad that foreign nationals are making profits over our natural assets”.
On his part Principal Secretary for Regulation in the Ministry of Mining, Martin Kaluluma said the mineral had no value that’s why they had to sell it for MK2 million for marketing purposes.
The three Chinese nationals were caught in Bolero in Rumphi with the same said mineral and were asked to pay MK 7 million each.
