Mining
Malawi Govt. worried with false reports on mining
December 29, 2023 / Christopher Jimu Chegutu
Minister of Mining Monica Chang’anamuno has expressed concern over the spread of fake news about mining on social media.
”My ministry is concerned with the tendency by some unpatriotic people who are spreading false information especially through social media. We sometimes spend a lot of resources to investigate these unsubstantiated reports only to discover at the end of the day that they are lies,” Chang’anamuno said when she opened the Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Indaba in Lilongwe.
She urged media practitioners to report facts to avoid confusing the populace as well as investors.
“Sometimes we read reports in the media which are lacking and not fully investigated. We love you media practitioners as partners in development but whenever you are not sure about a subject, please seek clarification from my Ministry,” she said.
Chang’anamuno said if well nurtured and fully utilized to its maximum potential, the mining sector can ably compete with agriculture in contributing to the economy.
“Even the President His Excellency Dr Lazarus Chakwera is following with very keen interest developments in the mining sector and we know as a Ministry we have his total support,” she said.
First Principal Secretary in the Ministry Joseph Mkandawire in an interview expressed concern that the Ministry at one point hired a helicopter from Malawi Defence Force (MDF) to check illegal mining activities in Vwaza Game Reserve as reported on social media only to find out that the pictures being circulated were from one of the countries in West Africa.
“We spent millions to pay for fuel for the helicopter and even MDF personnel only to hit a blank wall. This malpractice of spreading false information must stop because sometimes it brings unnecessary fear to investors,” said Mkandawire.
Dr Charles Kankuzi, a lecturer at the University of Malawi, in his contribution during deliberations also touched on the issue of false information and misrepresentation of facts in mining sector.
He urged government and all stakeholders in the mining industry to take a leading role in information dissemination if the vice is to be nipped in the bud.
Former Minister of Mining Grain Malunga, who also graced the event, while commending the media for their role in developing mining said mining being a technical subject, there was need for specialization to avoid creating unnecessary tension through misreporting.
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Rehabilitation:
The establishment of a stable and self-sustaining ecosystem, but not necessarily the one that existed before mining began. In many cases, complete restoration may be impossible, but successful remediation, reclamation, and rehabilitation can result in the timely establishment of a functional ecosystem.
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Remediation:
The cleanup of the contaminated area to safe levels by removing or isolating contaminants. At mine sites, remediation often consists of isolating contaminated material in pre-existing tailings storage facilities, capping tailings and waste rock stockpiles with clean topsoil, and collecting and treating any contaminated mine water if necessary.
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