Business community fights for villagers at coal mine
Barely a week after some angry villagers torched and closed down Ilomba Mine in Chitipa, villagers around Kasikizi Coal Mine in Karonga have threatened to shut down the mine.
The community alleges that the investor is failing to fulfill a number of agreed developmental projects.
Speaking on behalf of the community, group village head Mweninguwe told the Karonga business community during a visit on Monday that since the company started its mining activities, it has failed to drill boreholes for the community.
“We have been engaging the miner on several occasions to no avail. We want water, school blocks and teachers’ houses at Vungo Primary School,” he said.
Evelyn Kayira, a community member, said she feels the company is just there to maximise profits, saying it does not have the welfare of the community at heart.
Speaking on behalf of Karonga business community, Wavisanga Silungwe blamed the miners exploiting minerals without giving back to the community.
Kasikizi Coal Mine human resource manager Last Strawo said they are committed to providing social amenities as part of their social corporate responsibility.
In an interview yesterday, Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Bintony Kutsaira said they are doing everything possible to rectify challenges community members face in areas where mining activities are taking place, including Kasikizi. “We want to see to it that investors give back to the community. That is why we have revised the Mining Act to fill those gaps,” he said.
