By Burnett Munthali
Zodiak has discovered that a significant number of people in the Kawinga area of Machinga district have been engaging in illegal gold mining activities in the Nkhande River. This mining is happening without official permission and is raising concerns about environmental degradation and safety.
Upon visiting the area, it was found that even children are involved in digging large pits in search of gold, which they sell to traders within the region. One of the miners, Marriam James, explained that she engages in gold mining to escape poverty, often earning between K20,000 and K50,000 each time she sells the gold.
Machinga District’s Environmental Officer, Andrew Kaitano Hamuza, expressed deep disappointment over the growing scale of this practice. He noted that it is not only happening in Kawinga but also in more than five other traditional authorities across the district. The consequences have been devastating, with mountains, forests, and rivers being severely damaged.
Economic expert Arthur Ngwende weighed in on the situation, stating that the lack of proper regulation is causing Malawi to miss out on significant revenue that could be generated through the mining sector. He urged the government to support local gold traders and work with the Reserve Bank to ensure that enough gold is purchased within the country. This, he argued, would help prevent illegal exports and smuggling of the precious metal.
The situation calls for immediate attention from authorities to address both the environmental and economic consequences of unregulated gold mining in the area.
