Africa-Press – Malawi. The country’s civil rights group Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), in collaboration with Friends of Mulanje, Tourism Association of Mount Mulanje (TAMM), Tour Guides and Porters’ Association and concerned groups and individuals is demanding immediate withdrawal of Akaswiri Mining Company licence from extracting bauxite minerals Mulanje mountain’s Chambe Plateau.
The demand comes after the Akaswiri Mining Company embarked on extraction activities without engaging the communities with fears that the resources will be abused to the firm’s advantage.
Addressing the news conference on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, CDEDI executive Director Sylvester Namiwa observed that Akaswiri Mining Company’s misconduct is unacceptable in conserving natural resources such as Mulanje Mountain.
“CDEDI is hereby informing the people of Mulanje District, and the nation at large, that we have engaged Mulanje District Commissioner (DC) Mr. David Gondwe and demanded an immediate withdrawal of Akaswiri Mining Company from Mulanje Mountain, and urgently call for all-inclusive stakeholders meeting to discuss matters of mining in this mountain before the situation gets out of hand.
“We have embarked on this course having received information that various stakeholders are seething with rage in total disbelief that Akaswiri Mining Company has descended on the Chambe Plateau and is carrying out mining-related activities without engaging the communities who are key stakeholders to this national, continental and world pride”, says Namiwa.
He adds, “In reaction to the above, over 20 village and group village heads in Traditional Authorities Mkanda and Mabuka, bordering the Lichenya and Likhubula basins that make up the Chambe Plateau, convened an emergency meeting that mandated the aforementioned organizations and groups to lead in rescuing Mt. Mulanje from destruction through, among others, the kind of activities Akaswiri Mining. Company is alleged to be doing.
“Thus far, we have petitioned the DC to do the needful by Thursday, December 21, 2023. Malawians may wish to know that Akaswiri Mining Company descended on the mountain on November 28, 2023, following a purported extra-ordinary District Council meeting held on April 20, 2023, which reportedly approved the mining activities”.
Namiwa explains further, “The company’s action was in total disregard of the fact that besides being a cultural and historic natural resource, Mt. Mulanje is a UNESCO-designated heritage site, which is also a catchment area of water bodies and important rivers supplying water to people in Mulanje, Phalombe, Chiradzulu, Thyolo and Blantyre through Blantyre and Southern Region water boards.
“Over and above that, bauxite, one of the earmarked minerals at Lichenya Plateau, is toxic. This simply means that mining in this mountain will lead to contamination”.
He observes, “Furthermore, Mt. Mulanje is home to the highest number of unique plant and animal biodiversity in Africa; therefore, by any standard and measure, it is a global treasure that as citizens, we must be proud of and jealously guard against any form of harm.
“Given the above, and in line with the spirit of Section 12 of the Republican Constitution, which hinges on trust, transparency, and accountability, and more importantly, demands those exercising legal and political authority to make decisions, to serve and protect people’s interests solely, we are calling upon the DC to make public all relevant documents that culminated into granting of mining license (s) by the Ministry of Forestry and Climate Change, and not the responsible Ministry of Mining, as expected.”
The joint statement adds, “Subsequently, as a people proud of their treasure, all purported licences should be revoked forthwith since mining is not an option on Mt. Mulanje. Apart from water supplied to Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, and Blantyre districts, the mountain provides direct jobs to 600-plus porters and guides.
“These 65 tourism facility operators have provided over 30,000 jobs in the hospitality industry, with multi-billion kwacha investments that will turn into white elephants should the mountain cease to be a tourist attraction due to health-related hazards stemming from mining activities. That is, to say the least losses in billions of kwacha taxes both local and central governments would incur”.
Concludes the statement signed by CDEDI Executive Director, TAMM Chairperson, Friends of Mulanje Chairperson and Porters and Guides Association Chairperson Namiwa, Willard Mahata, Ken Chilewe, and Olivery Ordry respectively, “The recent attack on Mt. Mulanje has sent shock waves to communities in Mulanje and Phalombe districts as they are reminded of the fatal effects of water gushing out of rocks that were unprovoked, hence they cannot condone any apparent provocation of danger through drilling that will weaken further the structure of the mountain, change courses of water, thereby leading to more flash floods that have the potential to wipe out humans, animals, and crops as was the case with Cyclone Freddy”.
Akaswiri Mining Company is yet to comment on the matter.
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