Minister of Mining Thoko Tembo has urged journalists to improve their understanding of mining and mineral-related issues to ensure Malawians receive accurate and meaningful information about the sector.
Tembo made the remarks on Tuesday at Sunbird Livingstonia in Salima during a media training workshop for journalists on reporting mining and mineral-related issues.
He said mining is increasingly becoming an important pillar of Malawi’s economic transformation, noting that the country is endowed with minerals such as rare earth elements, uranium, rutile, gold, graphite and limestone.
Tembo said effective communication is critical because mining issues can be technical and complex, covering areas such as mineral licences, environmental protection, taxation, royalties, exports and artisanal and small-scale mining.
He challenged journalists to investigate mining-related issues, ask difficult questions and hold government institutions and mining companies accountable while ensuring that their reporting is based on facts and credible sources.
The Minister also said the media has a key role to play in promoting responsible mining by educating communities and miners on environmental protection, occupational safety, responsible use of mining technologies and compliance with the law.
“We do believe that people in the country need to know what is happening in the mining sector and they can only know about this through the media. This is why the media needs to be equipped to make sure that people have the relevant information before making their decisions,” said Tembo.
Tembo said government is working to formalise small-scale mining by organising miners into cooperatives to enable them to access skills, equipment, finance and markets.He urged journalists to report on both the challenges and opportunities facing small-scale miners, including illegal mining, smuggling and unsafe mining practices.
Tembo further said Malawi must ensure that its citizens benefit from the country’s mineral resources through local content, value addition and participation in various mining value chains.
He also encouraged journalists to go beyond reporting statements made at meetings by visiting mining sites, engaging communities and consulting experts.
Tembo said the Ministry of Mining will continue engaging the media and other stakeholders to improve transparency and access to information as government implements reforms aimed at strengthening governance and increasing the contribution of the mining sector to national development.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Press Gallery Robert Mbetewa thanked the Minister and the Ministry of Mining for organising the media training, saying it would help journalists provide accurate information to the public about the mining sector.
Mbetewa appealed to journalists across the country to take a leading role in promoting and educating the public about mining through their radio and television programmes.
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