By Tiyese Monjeza:
Director of Civic Education at the Ministry of Local Government, Unity, and Culture Misheck Munthali has warned communities against employing children in mines.
Munthali made the remarks on Monday in Traditional Authority (TA) M’biza in Zomba, where the ministry, in partnership with officials from ministries of Information and Mining, engaged communities from the area on proper mining procedures.
This follows discovery of gold sediments in Moleni Village in the area, where people are now mining.
Earlier, councilor for the area William Muthipa and TA M’biza told the team that children are taking part in mining activities.
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“We will not tolerate child labour in mining sites, and we have empowered the chiefs to be monitoring these sites to ensure every child is going to school,” Munthali said.
Ministry of Mining Chief of Explosives David Liabunya urged the communities to form a mining cooperative and get mining licenses.
“It is worrisome that traders are taking advantage of communities’ lack of knowledge and value of commodities as they are buying the commodity at a lower price. We will assist the communities in forming the cooperative and link them with credible buyers,” Liabunya said.
