Kanyika residents have threatened to sue Malawi government and Globe Metals and Mining Company for failing to compensate villagers who were relocated from the mining site in Mzimba. Chief Mabulabo of the area said they will seek justice in court arguing that government and the company have made life miserable for Kanyika residents. In 2008, government unveiled plans to have niobium mining at Kanyika in Karonga to be run by Australian company Globe Metals, a development that led to relocation of residents from the area. Government further urged residents from the area to stop commercial activities while they were waiting to be moved out of the mining site.

Five years after removing the people, there is nothing on the ground to show that the company is ready to start the mining work and residents are yet to be compensated. Mabulabo said that the company is failing to compensate 240 families despite having an agreement with them.  He said that the residents through their lawyer Crispin Sibande will take up the matter to court. “It’s very embarrassing that government is not there for people who are living in misery, they were moved but up to now they haven’t been compensated,” said Mabulabo.

Earlier on, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) urged government to come out clearly on whether there will be niobium mining at Kanyika in Mzimba. However, government and Globe Metals officials said the project is still on and people should not lose hope as they will be duly compensated as per agreement.