Minister stops mineral rock export

Minister of mining Rashid Gaffar has stopped the export of a mineral rock which is circulating on social media because it was sold at a low price of 2 million kwacha.

According to regional geologist for the centre in the ministry Samuel Sakhuta the rock was impounded by police in 2019 from 3 Chinese nationals and Malawian who were trying to export it

Sakhuta said the rock became a government property and after some inspections it was up to be sold but many people did not show interest to buy because they said it was of low quality

However he said the Ministry measured the rock hence the price and one person bought it

Meanwhile, the minister responsible says is not happy with the price the mineral rock was sold at

“We will investigate the true value of the rock before exporting it to ensure that minerals are not smuggled outside the country,” Gaffar

Commenting on the matter Natural resources Justice Network NRJN has asked Tonse alliance government to investigate and put a stop to the plunder of natural resources

Executive director for NRJN Cossam Munthali says the country continues to lose huge amounts of money through illegal mining and corruption.