"Chinese small scale mining anchoring Malawi's rural economies"

[...]

In his recent State of Nation Address President Chakwera reiterated his government’s plans of increasing the mining sector’s contribution to the GDP from the current 3 percent to 20 percent as well as empowering economically communities where minerals are being mined.

[...]

But the country’s plans to boost the mining sector currently meets many obstacles, one of which is the influx of foreign small scale miners especially Chinese nationals that are most of the times reportedly exploiting rural communities.

[I]n 2019 people from Mbirima in the northern district of Chitipa …stopped a Chinese mining firm from collecting mineral samples forcing them to first make commitment to conduct tangible corporate social responsibility in the area.Traditional leaders in the area…said the Chinese firm had been collecting large volumes of samples for three months which angered the community members.

…[A] chief’s council in Mzimba forced Chinese nationals to shut down all mining activities in the district as they were doing their activities without clear mining documents.

[...]

Many residents in the district had been expressing concern that Chinese miners are duping them over minerals being mined in the district.

[...]

Different media outlets have been reporting that Chinese nationals have been going to different parts of Mzimba district as buyers of precious stones but, within a few months, they start mining.

Some residents also said the Chinese nationals use Malawians to get licences and leave them in the cold once they get authorization.

In a recent press conference on the status of mining sector in Malawi, Minister of Mining Albert Mbawala said government is aware of the problems faced with the sector which include exploitation and alleged corrupt practices as well as smuggling of minerals by foreign nationals.

In May 2021 Member of Parliament for Zomba Central Bester Awali also urged the government to suspend all mining activities until the Mining Regulatory Authority was established.