NRJN Accuses Govt of Failure to Consult
The Natural Resources Justice Network (NRJN) has accused government for failing to consult stakeholders on the proposal by the latter to establish the mining company in the country.
Chairperson for the network, Kossam Munthali, has told Zodiak Online on Wednesday that Malawians are not aware of what is contained in the bill which has already been submitted to the ministry of justice for scrutiny.
Munthali said authorities were supposed to consult first before submitting the bill to ministry of Justice.
He said civil society organizations which advocates for justice in mining activities are yet to be consulted to make their inputs.
He said: "The ministry of mining has rushed to submit the bill to the ministry of justice for scrutiny without allowing Malawians to punch holes in the bill."
Spokesperson for the ministry of mining Andrew Mkonda Banda, says all relevant stakeholders will be consulted before tabling the bill in parliament.
"The ministry will not rush to submit the bill to parliament without consulting stakeholders to make some inputs," said Mkonda.
In May 2021, during a national address, president Lazarus Chakwera announced plans by his government to set up a mining company, establish a mining regulatory authority and construction of a laboratory to bring order in the mining industry.