The development comes amid proliferation of foreign mining investors who are extracting minerals such as graphite and galena behind the scenes in the district.

Speaking to Zodiak Online during emergency full council meeting, Dowa District Council Chairperson Martin Luka Phiri observed that there is no clear information from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining on cooperate social responsibility and benefits to people of Dowa.

"We will not allow them to proceed with mining activities because we do not know anything about cooperate social responsibility and benefits that our people in our areas will have from the mining activities, " Phiri said.

Phiri further observes that out of the 13 companies involved in mining activities in the district, the DC's Office only recognizes 3 companies.

Central Region Geologist in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Samuel Sakhuta told Zodiak Online that they were invited to make presentation on mining during the full council meeting but were made into responding questions.

Nevertheless, Sakhuta assured the district council officials that their concerns will be addressed as they will report them to relevant top ministry officials.

"We have taken all their concerns and we will report them to relevant top ministry officials in order to meet their demands,” Sakhutha said.

One of the companies that have been ordered to suspend mining activities in Dowa is Graphite Africa.

The new Mines and Minerals Act, which has not being operationalized up to now, has included a provision for any holder of a large-scale mining license to sign a CDA with communities that will be affected by its mining operations in order to assist in the development and enhance the general welfare and the quality of life of the affected communities.

In this vein, the country is still using the Mines and Minerals Act of 1981 which does not have provisions for voluntary Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or Community Development Agreements (CDA).