Community members around Kapirikalanda Hill in Senior Chief Wasambo in Karonga District have expressed concern over reports that their area will turn into a mining site.

The people expressed the fears on Tuesday in a media tour organised by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of Karonga Diocese.

During the tour, it was established that the prospective miner Lotus Resources Limited erected beacons on March 23 2022 to mark availability of uranium deposits.

In an interview, village head Kayelewa’s counsellor Kawemi Chihana claimed the decision to allow the miner was made without consulting traditional leaders.

The school earmarked for relocation

He said: “We just saw some officials who claimed to come from government and Kayelekera Uranium Mine, now Lotus Resources Limited, to do exploration exercise and they erected beacons. In all this, we were not briefed and when we confronted them, they said they were told that this is a reserve area.”

Kapirikalanda Primary School head teacher Thomas Mkwala bemoaned the development, saying the area has a school which started in 1999.

Group village head Chimphinga said the miners did the work without consulting them.

A Lotus Resources Limited official, who spoke to us on condition of anonymity, referred us to the company’s general manager Theo Keita who is reportedly outside the country on holiday.

CCJP acting desk officer Obert Mkandawire described the situation as unfortunate.

With funding from the Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurch Aid, CCJP is implementing Fighting Inequalities Project in the district.

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