Investor denies damage of 24 houses
Karonga Diocese Justice and Peace Desk is implementing a project on women's voices against poverty and inequality in the extractive sector in Karonga district.
KARONGA, Malawi - Kasikizi coal mine has denied damaging 24 houses under Village Headman Mkwinda which residents say was caused by coal blasting, writes Wezzie Mwangonde.
Representative Simon Kalea Kalua said the mining company was aware of only seven houses that developed cracks because they are within 100 meters of the coal pit.
Five houses have already been renovated and owners of the other two have proposed reconstruction, he said.
"The company has heard their concerns and will send representatives to re-visit the houses which the community says need renovation," Kalua said at an interface meeting between the local mining committee, investors and women's group.
"On the issue of 24 damaged houses, the company just heard about this during the interface meeting. The seven damaged houses, the company already sent people to do maintenance work but currently only two houses need reconstruction according to the owners," he added.
Mwenengubwe Local Mining Committee Chairperson Alone Ngilania said the committee was surprised the investor denied damaging 24 houses despite community members testifying that mining caused the damage.
"We will re-visit the damaged houses in Village Headman Mkwinda's area," Ngilania said.
The interface meeting was funded by the Southern Africa Trust.
Karonga Diocese Justice and Peace Desk is implementing a project on women's voices against poverty and inequality in the extractive sector in Karonga district.
"We will get to the bottom of this," Ngilania said.