New Mining Minister Atupele Must Walk the Talk

TALKING THE TALK: ATUPELE FACES  A TASK TO WALK THE WALK 

Malawi President Peter Mutharika has named opposition United Democratic Front leader Atupele Muluzi as Minister of Mining.

Throughout his losing electoral campaign, Muluzi, who came forth in the May 20 presidential polls, was hugely critical of the veil of secrecy that overshadows the emerging industry which contributes 10% to the donor-dependent economy.

In his inaugural state-of-the-nation address, newly elected president Mutharika envisaged the extractives industry contributing 20 percent to the national economy by 2016.

As the country grapples to achieve the said potential, Atupele has been a proponent of an opinion gaining sway that the prevailing secrecy is worsening exclusion and poverty of locals who shoulder the side-effects of increased activity in Malawi.

He promised greater openness and accountability so that the country and its people benefit from the natural resources. Among other things, he backed calls for reforms of laws which require mining firms to deal directly with the central government, leaving custodians of the land surrounding the mines in the cold.

Presently, citizens in Karonga, Northern Malawi, are petitioning hard to ensure that Paladin Africa and Eland Mining Limited start investing in developing the areas where the firms mine uranium and coal, respectively. The communities want the mining companies to establish educational, transport and safe water facilities in the areas where they work.

They also demand decent work rather than working as labourers under expatriate bosses—a glimpse of the skills’ gap the country must feel as it bids to make mining a backbone of the economy.

“I will ensure that all the minerals in Malawi benefit Malawians. No single must benefit from natural resources while the rest of the nation gets poorer. Those in power should make sure mining benefits the people at the grassroot,” said Muluzi during his campaign rally in Rumphi in April.

He also promised to enact the long-awaited Access to Information Bill to ensure transparency and accountability in the sector regulated by the Mines and Minerals Act of 1981 fashioned during the one-party rule of founding president Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda who publicly declared that Malawi has no mines except agriculture.

RUINS OF KAYEREKERA: VILLAGES NEAR MALAWI'S URANIUM MINE

Although the Ministry of Mining has engaged a public relations officer to ensure greater ties with other stakeholders, Muluzi’s reign faces a huge task to put in place district mining officers to cut the distance and costs locals in need endure to get answers on grievances.

But the Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice in says reforming the law is the first step towards making mining truly a national agenda—not a gold field for politicians in power.

The organisation’s diocesan desk officer in Karonga, the largest mining district in the country, described the laws as archaic, retrogressive and without Malawians at heart.

Having talked the political talk, the ministerial appointment is a wake-up call for the son of former President Bakili Muluzi to start walking the walk Malawians want.

Karonga chiefs threaten to shut down Eland Coal Mine

UNDER FIRE: THE COALMINE IN KARONGA

Traditional leaders in Karonga have threatened to shut down Eland Coal Mine within “two or three weeks” if the company continues ignoring its corporate social responsibilities detailed in an agreement signed last year.

Since August 2013, Eland has been under fire for allegedly ignoring the memorandum of understanding which binds it to establish a health centre, expand school and provide safe water as well as electricity to locals affected by mining activity in Mwaulambo.

During a visit to the mine, three chiefs, led by group village headman Mesiya, expressed disappointment with the company for hurrying to excavate pits in the area, delaying to compensate households in the way of coal extraction and failure to honour nearly all obligations spelled out in the deal.

In an interview, Maseya rapped: “The mining company came to the area without consulting us as custodians of the land. Still, we hoped they would invest some of their earnings in developing the area just as mining activity has uplifted several towns in Zambia, South Africa and other neighbouring countries.

“However, all we are getting is coal dust, smoke, noise of heavy machines, spills of coal waste that are scorching our rice fields and other side effects. Soon, in two or three weeks time, you will hear from us. We will shut down the mine if they continue neglecting our interests.”

RACE TO THE COALS: Excavation in progress

Threats to close the mine have been looming since August 2013 when some of Maseya residents were supposed to be resettled and almost died following the payment of the belated compensation to nine of those earmarked to be relocated from the mining zone.

The traditional leaders described the compensation plans as “an ill advised compromise” on the resettlement plan since the MOU which partly requires Eland to “build standard houses for the affected depending on size of the family” and pay “fair compensation on property existing on the land”.

Reading through the agreement, there are no deadlines attached to the obligations the company is expected to carry out in consultation with Karonga District Council—an omission the affected village heads bemoaned as a big setback that needs to be ironed out urgently if affected communities are going to get a fair deal from mining activity.

When asked for his part of the story, Eland head of sales and marketing Mayamiko Mwinjilo, who speaks for the company, asked for a questionnaire which has not yet been answered.

Mwawi Shawa, desk officer for Justice and Peace Department in Karonga Diocese which is implementing Transparency Initiative within Our Natural Extractives (Tiwone), said it was in the interest of justice for Eland to honour the agreement.

“As the Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice, we have a preferential option that requires us to side with the vulnerable. Likewise, we hope Eland will respect the agreement for justice and peace’s sake,” said Shaba in an interview.