In the heart of Mzimba, villagers around Kanyika have been living in limbo for almost two decades. Thandiwe Chavula’s life has been put on hold, her future uncertain as she awaits relocation for 19 years due to mining activities.
“I still don’t know when I will be relocated and this has affected my family. We are living in dilapidated houses knowing that an order was given to us not to develop the area,” she said, her voice trembling with frustration.
The area, which has been earmarked for mining, has been under a development freeze since Globe Metals and Mining Limited arrived.
Physically challenged man Faston Bikoko of Mkondanyifwa village feels abused, saying he is like a refugee in his own land.
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Bikoko said the investors appeared in 2006 and alerted them that the area had deposits of some precious stones, including Niobium and Tantalum.
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According to Bikoko, it was in 2012 when the assessment was carried out, followed by a recommendation that they be compensated before they could be relocated to another piece of land.
“Just imagine, the news came in when I had a single child but, now, I have six of them.
I am still waiting for relocation. We are still leaving in temporary houses in our country as if we are refugees. We don’t want this anymore; let them leave us alone on our land,” he said.
Bikoko said the development has greatly affected them as they are affected by hunger year in year out.
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Traditional leader Yobe Nhlane, who is equally affected, notes that his people are struggling with hunger after being disturbed by the news of relocation.
Kennedy Rashid, Coordinator for Natural Resources Network, a consortium of 55 civil society organisations that operate in the extractive sector, said what is happening at Kanyika raises a lot of concerns.
“Even though the government wants to develop, and advocate for industrialisation through, mining, there is a disregard for land rights of communities and the right to development.
“This is happening while the government is protecting the mineral rights of the investors,” Rashid said.
On his part, Inequality Coordinator in the NCA/DCA joint programme, Mwayi Sandram, said they have a programme which aims at reducing the resource gap between the rich and the poor in Malawi.
He said under the programme, one of the key components is strengthening the voices of civil society, including faith-based organisations, the media and community groups.
“When it comes to mining, civil society is very critical because they are the ones that bring out the issues that are affecting mining community members.
The media is a critical actor because it gives community members a voice by unearthing issues that are affecting various communities,” Sandram said.
He added that it is NCA/DCA’s wish that as the mining sector develops in Malawi, everyone should have space to voice out concerns.
Responding to the issues, Globe Metals and Mining Limited Managing Director Lusungu Chirwa said that they were working hard to ensure that the people get the fair treatment during their relocation exercise.
“We, as a mining company, don’t have the right to own the land but we are given the right to do the work under the ground. So, as a government, they have the responsibility
to relocate the people but knowing that the government is also having some financial challenges, mining companies work together with the government on the matter.
“This is why we gave them an assurance that they can start [doing whatever they are doing], knowing that the government is also giving us an assurance that we start the mining within a short period of time. Unfortunately, it took so long [and], as a result, Globe Metals couldn’t give out the money to continue with the relocation [exercise] because we don’t have the mining licence.
By the time they were giving us the licence, things have changed and we had to revise our feasibility studies,” she said.
The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights also come into play, emphasising the right to development and fair treatment.
The Mining Act also emphasises the importance of respecting local land rights and treating community members
