By Draxon Maloya
Malawi (News of The South) – The church and Society Program has emphasized on the need for the citizenry to be more knowledgeable about the land laws and issues to do with mining, if they are not to be exploited by some foreign mining investors.
These remarks were made at the District Executive Committee (DEC) Meeting in Mzimba on Tuesday by the society’s project officer responsible for mining, Paul Mvula during the presentation of a new mining project called the advocacy campaign for a transparent and accountable extractive industry.
Mvula said the project is aimed at raising awareness to the masses in a number of areas that shall bridge the existing gap between the mining investors and those who are affected in one way or the other in the course of mining.
“We want to capacitate the communities further in a number of areas, now you know there is a new mining law so we want to people in Kanyika to be aware of provided more especially the provisions which are there dealing with corporate social responsibilities and issues to do with land,” Mvula said.
And in his contribution the Social Welfare Officer for Mbelwa District Council, Jim Woshi expressed the need for the Church and Society to consider implementing the project in the Traditional Authority Kampingosibande area.
“I think they have jumped the procedure which could be to meet with the sub technical committee which is the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Network because the area they have chosen is the same areas where the ECD is implementing a similar project,” Woshi said.
Among others the project will also address some of the challenges the communities are facing when a mining investors are coming into their areas such as lack of information, particularly in the areas of contractual obligation for compensation and property.
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This is a six month pilot project which is being implemented with funding from the Norwegian Church Aid at a tune of k41 million.
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