Last week, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining was called out to act on illegal mining, as the Natural Resources and Climate Change Committee of Parliament warned the ministry of unspecified action if it fails to police illegal mining and trade of gemstones and other minerals. One week later, Ngoni Chiefs’ Council in Mzimba has ordered to shut down all mining activities in the district, mostly being done by Chinese nationals who are mining without clear mining documents.

The chiefs’ council Secretary Senior Chief Mpherembe told Malawi News that their action is coming as government has failed to communicate to them on the licences given to the Chinese miners.

In June this year, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining has announced an upcoming mineral assessment project that is worth K8.7bn, to be funded by the French Republic.

The project, known as Geological Mapping and Mineral Assessment Project (GEMMAP) will launch in Lilongwe, aimed at discovering new mining information, as an update to already existing data. According to the Geological Survey Project Coordinator, Kondwani Dombola, the project will involve the production of geological maps of Malawi to indicate areas which are prone to disasters.