Body drills community leaders in mining issues
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of Karonga Diocese has challenged community leaders in the district to take a leading role towards ending wrangles on mining activities.
CCJP extractive project officer Vincent Bwinga made the call at a mining training last week aimed at equipping the clergy, community-based organisations and civil society organisations with mediation skills in communities whose mining activities are taking place.
He said: “We want the leaders to engage investors and community members to work together in a transparent manner.
“They should sensitise the community to the revised Mines and Minerals law, contracts, resettlements and compensation as well as revenue collection so that both parties should benefit from the minerals.”
Bwinga has since appealed to government to make Mines and Minerals law accessible to communities.
On his part, Lupembe Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) moderator the Reverend Ian Mkhalipe said ignorance was slowing down the growth of the mining industry in the district.
“Corruption, greed and withholding of vital information by government are responsible for members not benefitting from the industry,” he said.
Mbande Area Development Committee chairperson Wavisanga Silungwe commended CCJP for the training, saying it came at a right time when there a number of misunderstandings between communities and miners in the district.
