CEPA empowers Malingunde community over graphite mining prospects

By Wahard Betha

The Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (CEPA) says there is need for the Malingunde community to acquire relevant knowledge and skills to engage duty bearers and to make informed decisions about graphite mining prospects in the area.

Director of Programmes for CEPA Herbert Mwalukomo said this at a community sensitization campaign meeting which the organisation held in the Malingunde area under the theme “Promoting Responsive and Accountable Extractive Industries Governance.”

CEPA is conducting the community sensitization campaign for the Malingunde Graphite Prospecting         Project as part of a one year project dubbed “Promoting Responsive and Accountable Extractive Industries Governance,” which it is implementing with funding from the European Union through Tilitonse Foundation.

ASX-listed firm Sovereign Metals is prospecting for graphite at Malingunde and has planned to launch an open pit mining operation in the area in 2021 after completion of an ongoing feasibility study that includes an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).

“It is important that the local community should understand that it is not known if mining will take place or not because it all depends on the outcome of the ESIA,” said Mwalukomo, adding “We are preparing the community that in the event that mining starts, they should be empowered to engage the duty bearers and to demand what they deserve in accordance with the country’s laws.”

He asked the members of the community to exercise patience on compensation issues and lead their normal   lives while waiting for Sovereign Metals to complete the feasibility study, which will determine the feasibility of the project.

CEPA is conducting a series of meetings to update the Malingunde community on the stages of the mineral prospecting project in line with Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) which is an internationally recognised right that allows indigenous people to give or withhold consent to a project that may affect them or their lives.

Mwalukomo urged the government and the investor to ensure that information on the progress of the project is released to the community at all times so that they are able to make informed decisions.

In her remarks, Lilongwe District Council’s Director of Planning and Development LovenessNawata            commended CEPA for conducting the sensitization campaign saying it will equip the communities with extra precaution on the mining project.

“It is a welcome development that CEPA thought it wise to organize a sensitization campaign on the project which has given an opportunity to the local masses to understand the whole assessment and compensation issues; and also the benefits and potential dangers that may come with graphite mining,” Nawata said.

She disclosed that government gave members of the community an opportunity to choose whether to be compensated, relocate themselves or government handles the relocation issues when it issues the mining license to the investor.

Nawata said various stakeholders including government departments are collaborating with the Department of Mines in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining to ensure that the mining project follows right procedures including that the local communities are fairly compensated before mining starts.

She also told the communities that they will be given enough time to decide on the issue of relocation once the mining license is granted.

The area’s Group Village Headman Chitsulo thanked CEPA for the intervention saying he and other traditional leaders convene meetings with members of the community to brief them on the project based on the information acquired from CEPA.

The Promoting Responsive and Accountable Extractive Industries Governance Project is designed to promote an inclusive and transparent governance of the Malawian extractive industries sector. This goal is being achieved by enhancing access to information on mining development processes; increasing engagement of communities in all stages of the mining life cycle; and enabling the mining regulatory framework to be operationalized.

Through the project, Malingunde communities are being empowered to understand Environmental and Social Impact Assessment processes, Land Acquisition and Compensation Rights, Stages of Mining Development processes and Mining Laws which will enable them to hold duty bearers and decision makers accountable on mining development processes.