Mining & Trade News

New mining minister storms the road

Newly appointed Minister of Minong Honourable Thoko Tembo has had no time to settle down after his appointment. The Minister has taken to the road already engaging gears.

Barely a month after his appointment, Tembo has already met a number of stakeholders in the sector including the Malawi Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA), Malawi Mining Investment Company (MAMICO), the Federation of Artisanal and Small Miners in Malawi (FASMIM), Mining Review Publications, Sovereign Services and is expected to tour a number of private sector mining investments across the country.

The message from the Minister is simple: “State President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika and the entire Malawi Nation are depending on mining as a potential sector to lead in Malawi’s economic transformation as underlined in Malawi 2063. Corruption will kill the industry; positive action is the catch word.”

Stakeholders operating in the extractives sector including Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Artisanal and Small-scale Miners (ASMs) and the private sector have welcomed the newly appointed Minister who has taken over from Honourable Dr Jean Mathanga who was Minister of Energy and Mining.

Mutharika has split the Ministry into two standalone Ministries consequently leaving Mathanga as Minister of Energy.

In an interview with Mining and Trade Review Executive Director for Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (CEPA), Helbert Mwalukomo congratulated the newly appointed minister and further commended the decision taken by the President to form a standalone Ministry of Mining.

Mwalukomo said the establishment of the Ministry of Mining is the step forward in the right direction understanding that the mining sector is one of the fundamental pillars for national development.

He said: “This is a step in the right direction. As one of the priority sectors for national development, it is progressive to have a stand-alone Ministry of Mining. It demonstrates government's commitment to the development of the sector.”

“What will be more important is for the Ministry to provide the necessary support including adequate resources for the proper functioning of the MMRA and MAMICO.”

 FASMIM President Percy Maleta said the development will bring great impact to the sector.

Maleta said: “We believe a dedicated Mining Ministry will bring greater focus to the sector, improve policy implementation, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and accelerate the formalization and development of ASM activities.”

“The ASM subsector continues to face challenges such as limited access to finance, equipment, technology, and formal markets.”

 “As FASMIM, we look forward to working closely with the Minister and Government to promote responsible mining, value addition, and increased participation of ASMs in Malawi's mining economy.”

Coordinator for Chamber of Mines and Energy, Grain Malunga said “the split of the Ministry of Energy and Mining is good to give focus to the main mandate of the mining sector.

“The split should encourage the new minister to be mining centric and be able to serve mining stakeholders without excuses,” Malunga said.

Speaking on behalf of the youth in mining, Director for Tithandizane Youth Support Organization Aubrey Duwa said the development demonstrates a commitment to giving the mining sector dedicated attention, which is essential for unlocking its full potential and ensuring that mineral resources contribute meaningfully to national development.

Duwa also said they believe that the separation will improve policy focus, oversight, and accountability within the mining sector.

He said: “As a youth-focused CSO, who are also into mining governance, we welcome the Government's decision of separating the Ministry of Energy from the Ministry of Mining and appointing Hon. Tembo as Minister responsible for Mining.”

“With a standalone Ministry, there is an opportunity to strengthen regulation, promote transparency, attract responsible investment, and enhance monitoring of mining activities across the country.”

“From a youth perspective, we hope this restructuring will lead to increased employment opportunities, skills development, entrepreneurship, and greater participation of young people in mining value chains.”

He encouraged the newly appointed Minister to consider prioritizing community engagement, environmental sustainability, and equitable sharing of benefits from mineral resources.

Duwa, however, said the success of this development will depend on effective leadership, strong governance, and a commitment to ensuring that Malawi's mineral wealth translates into tangible socio-economic benefits for all citizens, including young people and communities directly affected by mining activities.

Leave a Comment

Comments