Malawi: Report raises human rights concerns including workers' safety in mining areas; Mkango Resources & Nyala Mines respond
Norwegian Church Aid in collaboration with its partners recently released a report on the impact of mining on the local communities. According to the report, some communities around mining areas have been negatively impacted by mining activities including health and safety risks due to exposed excavations. Others allege they were not consulted before mining commenced and are yet to fully benefit from mining. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Mkango Resources and Nyala Mines to respond to the concerns. Mkango Resources said it "committed itself to applying good international practise in terms of community engagement and CSR activities" for its project. Nyala Mines said it is "committed to raising...standard...[to be] considered a model of national deveopment" and that any further concerns about the welfare of the communities will be addressed. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre has now invited Eland Coal Mine to respond. We will include their response when we receive it.
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Nyala Mines response
Author: Nyala Mines
"Letter of Clarification - Nyala Mines Limited, Chimwadzulu Hill, Ntcheu District - Malawi"
...[We are perturbed by the] outrageous allegations leveled against us in the ICOME report and we wish to set the record straight...[We believe] that this is a deliberate campaign designed to demotivate our resolve to raise Nyala Mines to its optimum potential...[We] are committed to raising our standards whereby we would be considered a model of national development.
Response by C12 on behalf of Nyala Mines
Author: C12 (Malawi)
"Response to the Report on the Theatre for Development exercise conducted by Institute for Community Mobilization and Empowerment (ICOME) in Karonga, Ntcheu and Phalombe Districts March 22 to 3 rd April, 2016"
Full report
Author: Institute for Community Mobilization and Empowerment, for Norwegian Church Aid (Malawi)
"Report on the Theatre For Development Exercise"
The Norwegian Church Aid in collaboration with its partners which include the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, Qaudria Muslim Association of Malawi, Malawi Council of Churches, Evangelical Association of Malawi, and Church and Society of Livingstonia Synod...has been coordinating and implementing...a project to...[ensure] increased tranparency, accountability and responsiveness in Malawi's mining sector...
[This report captures] people's views on mining governance, their suggested mitigations and their concerns on mining governance...[It documents the] root causes for...communities' problems that are emanating from the mining taking place...
Mkango Resources response
Author: Mkango Resources
"Mkango Resources response"
...One of Mkango’s core principles is to ensure that there will be poverty reduction, improved education and empowerment of previously disadvantaged groups within the communities that we work in. Therefore, it is important for us to implement meaningful, sustainable and successful social responsibility programmes commensurate with the stage of exploration and development. The company has committed itself to applying good international practise in terms of community engagement and CSR activities for our project.