An illegal gold mine discovered in Nathenje, a small town not far from Malawi’s capital in Lilongwe just five months ago is attracting a steady stream of people from around the country in search of riches. The gold rush has also drawn the attention of the country’s government, who has declared it illegal and is making plans to regulate it.
For many people living in Nathenje, the discovery of gold was a lifesaver. The community, a predominantly farming one, has suffered a shortage of rain since early this year, making it hard for many to plant crops. An Indian was rumored to have found the mine seemingly through research but has been reportedly chased out of the country by security agencies. The leftovers from his gold exploration attracted locals in the town.
“This is a huge relief for us, that is why all of are flocking there because this year the harvest was bad…There was going to be serious hunger. Now people make money and they can buy maize to feed their families.” the village head Katondo told South African newspaper Business Day.
Malawians from around the country have also joined in the gold rush, in the hope of striking it rich. The gold mined from the region is currently priced at $34 per gram, and there have been more disappointments than success. But that hasn’t dampened the optimism in the community. Many of the miners didn’t know what gold was or looked like, apart from the fact that it was precious. Though the success stories have been few and far between, they have been impactful; a woman buying school items for her kid with from the sales of gold, another buying more land to mine, and yet another leaving his job as a watchman to devote himself fully to mining.
The illegal mining of gold in the region has created a new industry for artisanal miners, though unregulated. Employing the use of crude instruments like shovels and picks, the miners have created a system of “bosses and employees”, where the owner of a mining land pays women to carry dirt, while also paying lorry drivers to lift sand to where they will be sifted for gold. A police raid on the mining settlement earlier this month brought a harsh reminder that the mining was illegal.
A bill to review Malawi’s mining laws, especially its 1981 Mines, and Minerals Act will be tabled before the country’s parliament before the end of the year. The review would regulate and grant licenses to artisanal and small-scale mining. A spokesperson for the country’s Ministry of natural resources, land, and minerals told Reuters the regulation was imperative. “It is an illegal activity that is taking place in Malawi and we do not want it. That is why we say at some point they will be ejected out of those places unless they follow the rules of the country,” he said.
Annual drought and food shortage reportedly cost Malawi more than 1 percent of its GDP yearly. Currently, it is undergoing a food shortage, caused by a delay in crop planting earlier this year due to drought. As a result, there has been a hike in food prices, with many families unable to afford them. The emerging mining industry, although illegal, is giving a lifeline to many in the country, but the fears now are that government regulations could scupper their only money-making venture.
