An investigation by Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) on alleged human rights violations at Hara and Lisikwa coal mines in Karonga District has established that the two companies have been flouting various human rights, labour and environmental frameworks.
The matter was reported to MHRC by Karonga Civil Society Network (KCSN) and Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) – Karonga Diocese, on January 18, 2022 and November 23, 2022, respectively.
In the 55-page report, MHRC has issued 12 recommendations that the mine owners, among other stakeholders, should comply with.
KCSN and CCJP filed complaints bordering on harsh working environments, environmental degradation, unfair dismissals, low pay and no compensation, among others.
For instance, they alleged that in November 2021, coal fire from Lisikwa Mine endangered the lives of two children who sustained large burns and consequently failed to sit their end-of-term examinations.
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Reading the report, whose investigation was done between December 2022 and February 2023, MHRC commissioner Grace Malera said they established that the two mining companies were paying some workers as low as K14,000 per month.
MHRC also found that almost half of the workers at Hara and Lisikwa mines lacked proper working gear such as masks, uniforms, helmets and boots.
“Furthermore, the commission found that there was a river polluted by coal which the locals said they no longer use as well as coal residue in some of the [crop fields].
“These practices are contrary to Section 31 of the Constitution on the right to fair and safe labour practices and to fair remuneration,” the report reads.
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The investigation further established that there was a coal fire that injured two children and one man and killed a cow in 2021 but no compensation was made.
Meanwhile, MHRC has directed the mine owners to establish an association and mining workers unions within two months to facilitate dialogue on common challenges affecting the mines before coming up with sustainable solutions.
“The Ministry of Labour should analyse the application of Section 8 of the Workers Compensation Act in view of the Constitutional right to access justice and legal remedies.
“The commission will monitor the implementation of this recommendation after three months,” the report says.
One of the directors of Lisikwa Coal Mining Company, Jonathan Matandala, said they will go back to the drawing board and see how best the recommendations can be implemented.
“We have to follow what the report is saying, otherwise we will be forced to close the mine,” Matandala said.
CCJP Projects Officer Tuntufye Simwenda said the report is touching on critical areas that all mines in the country need to take heed of.
According to CCJP, the complaints they had submitted to MHRC emanated from a mining governance project which they are implementing in Karonga supported by Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid.
Hara and Lisikwa mines are located in the area of Traditional Authority Wasambo in Karonga District.
