Mining
Changing Lives Through Gold Mining: the story of Jenala Cooperative
January 21, 2025 / Modester Mwalija
Makauli: Our efforts bore fruits
Jenala Mining Cooperative, based in Thondwe, Zomba, is making advances in gold mining after acquiring small-scale mining licenses in September 2024.
In an interview, the cooperative’s General Secretary, Ben Makauli said the cooperative, which began operations informally in November 2023, was founded by a group of locals who discovered gold deposits in the vicinity of Jenala and Milepa trading centers.
Makauli said the cooperative’s journey has not been without serbacks as in May 2024, law enforcement officers confiscated their tools and equipment while labeling their activities illegal.
He said this setback led members to consult government mining officials, who provided guidance on the legal framework for mining.
“By May 5, we had organized our first official meeting, paving the way for our registration as a cooperative. After months of paperwork and consultations, our efforts bore fruits with the issuance of a license that granted us six hectares of mining land,” he explained.
Makauli said gold extraction at Jenala has evolved from manual to more advanced techniques. Initially, miners used basic tools like hoes, picks, and shovels to excavate topsoil, yielding up to three kilograms of gold per day.
“As these reserves depleted, we adopted drilling and crushing technologies, utilizing jackhammers, hammer mills, and jaw crushers to extract gold from weathered rock formations,” said Makauli.
Makauli explained that despite these advancements, production has dropped to around 15 grams per day due to financial constraints and limited access to modern equipment.
“The cooperative struggles to secure funding for essential resources such as fuel, additional manpower, and advanced mining equipment,” said Makauli.
Makauli emphasized the need for government support, particularly in accessing loans, to enable the cooperative to scale up production as plans to drill a borehole for clean drinking water and construct proper sanitation facilities are also on hold due to a lack of funds.
Despite these obstacles, Makauli highlighted that the cooperative has significantly impacted the local community as gold is able to give them income for survival in light of maize scarcity.
“People now have money to buy food, pay school fees, and meet other needs.” said Makauli.
He also said that the activity has reduced vices like excessive drinking in the area. “Many people are now busy mining gold to provide for their families instead of wasting time drinking.”
This story of determination and community collaboration emphasizes the potential of small-scale mining in driving economic development and transforming lives in Malawi. For Jenala, the gold beneath the soil is more than a resource, it is a lifeline for the people of Thondwe.
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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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