Malawi can attain middle income status within 5 years only if we can have effective mining strategy – Mandindi

A United Kingdom based Malawian political scientist who also holds a Masters in international Relations, Allan Mandindi says the government can invest the money raised through mining and create secondary cities across the country that can offer more opportunities for entrepreneurship – while Kasiya itself turning into a thriving economic hub with hotels and other services, creating thousands or millions of job opportunities.

Speaking to Malawi Daily Telegraph on Malawi’s recent discovery of the world’s largest rutile mine in Kasiya, the rural part of the capital city Lilongwe. Mandindi described it as a great indication that the country is sitting on valuable untapped resources.

Although this being the case, without proper strategy and planning as seen in other African countries, like the DRC rich in resources but very poor because of poor planning and allowed exploitation by certain sector whose interest is enriching themselves.

Writing first on his Twitter, Mandindi stressed that it is now possible for Malawi currently listed among impoverished nations to achieve to attain middle income status within the shortest period of time ever.

“Malawi can attain middle income status within 5 years if we have effective and robust mining strategy that can help our country raise the needed revenue to boost Gross Domestic Product per capita. The government can invest money raised through mining and create secondary cities that can offer more opportunities for entrepreneurship, Kasiya itself can become a thriving economic hub with hotels and other activities creating thousands or millions of jobs,” Mandindi said

Recent government reports indicates that Malawi should expect real mining activities at the multi- million dollar rutile mine at Kasiya in Lilongwe, which is projected to commence in 2025.

In April this year, a Australian-listed company, Sovereign Metals and Mining, announced that an updated mineral resource estimate had revealed that Malawi has the world’s largest rutile deposit estimated at 1.8 billion tonnes.

The estimate also revealed second largest graphite deposit.

“Although this is great news for Malawi, however, it is something that needs a careful approach, with great foundation we can rebuild the country and there is need for robust regulations that can safeguard our resources from exploitation starting from human capital, protection of the environment and local investments. I hope and believe our country will do the needful thing to make sure that the 20 Million Malawians are the beneficiary not only a few individual Malawians,” he said

President Lazarus Macarthy Chakwera has always stressed the need to revamp the mining industry as stipulated in the Malawi Vision 2063 in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aimed at eradicating poverty.