Trash, Govt says of mining report

Monday, 08 February 2010 17:54

Written by OUR CORRESPONDENT

Namakhwa LILONGWE--The Malawi government says a report warning of an impending human and ecological disaster in the uniraniun district of Karonga lacked any factual basis.

"We totally disagree with the findings," said Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education Kingsley Namakhwa. "Before we implemented the project, government conducted EIAs (Environmental Impact Assessments) to which all the stakeholders were involved and established that no such effects would be experienced."

Bench Mark Foundation, a South African non-governmental outfit, warns in a statement that any strong earthquake that would damage the mining company's operations would likely release toxic substances into Lake Malawi, a fresh water body that provides a director John Capel said. He claims that the report is based on a study it conducted in 2007 which involved the community, church leaders and concerned groups.

Capel, who says there was no cooperation from the investors, goes further to say Malawi would be better served if it focussed on agriculture. "Mining is very dangerous there due to the ecological composition of the escarpment, the seismic nature of the area and the fact that most rivers flow down from the escarpment into the lake."

"We would like to trash that statement in the strongest possible terms," said Namakhwa, adding that geological experts, including those from the United States, did not see any relationship between mining and earthquakes in the district.

Karonga experienced a number of earthquakes last year. The earthquakes killed at least one child, damaged houses and left thousands homeless in the area which was declared a disaster zone.--maravipost