Five Foreign Nationals Arrested in Chikwawa Mineral Probe
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has called for an urgent review of Malawi’s mining laws after five foreign nationals were arrested in Chikwawa over suspected illegal mineral activities.
The suspects were arrested by the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) on Wednesday after authorities received intelligence linking them to suspicious mineral exploration activities in the district.
Speaking in an interview, Sylvester Namiwa praised the MDF for acting swiftly on information gathered through cooperation between artisanal gold miners, gold dealers and the Ministry of Mining and Energy.
“We would like to salute the MDF for acting on a tip they got from a working relationship between gold miners, gold dealers and the ministry responsible for mining and energy,” said Namiwa.
Preliminary investigations show the suspects, identified as Russians Badalyan, Rushan Nersisyan, Andreir Sklyarchuk, Mark Sklyarchuk and Aleksel Latcyk, are connected to Baze International Limited and Avro International Limited.
According to CDEDI, the arrests followed a recent meeting between Mining Minister Jean Mathanga and artisanal miners led by James Kudazala.
During the meeting, the miners pledged to provide intelligence aimed at exposing illegal miners operating in the country.
A week later, CDEDI reportedly received information that six suspected foreigners were staying at a lodge in Chikwawa under suspicious circumstances.
The organisation claims the group allegedly refused lodge staff access to their rooms for three weeks, raising suspicion among workers.
Namiwa has since urged Malawians, especially those working in hotels and lodges, to report suspicious activities that may threaten the country’s mineral wealth.
“It begins with the citizens. That is why we are challenging people working in hospitality industries to report dubious activities involving foreign nationals,” he said.
Namiwa also accused the Mines and Minerals Act of 2023 of creating loopholes that allegedly allow foreign companies to exploit Malawi’s resources.
He questioned why companies are still being granted exploration licences lasting up to 10 years in areas such as Chimwazulu in Ntcheu and Kangankunde in Balaka, where mining activities have existed for decades.
According to Namiwa, some investors use long exploration periods to secretly take minerals out of the country before later claiming the deposits are not enough or are of poor quality.
Describing the situation as “daylight robbery,” Namiwa called on government to urgently strengthen the Minerals and Mining Regulatory Authority (MMRA) and review the country’s mining laws.
