Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining has expressed concern over the lesser number of artisanal and small-scale miners who are getting mining licenses from the ministry.

Spokesperson for the ministry Sangwani Phiri told YFM that the development is very worrisome considering that mining activities are part of economic development of a country.

“We have not yet had any overwhelming response that one could register that we have cooperatives that were interested to come forward and know how to go about mining though we conducted some awareness campaigns in some districts,” Phiri said.

He however appealed to all interested groups to come forward in order to reduce illegal mining mortalities with a recent case of a young man who died and another girl who got injured in Ntcheu district.

Some of the areas that illegal mining activities are taking place are Nathenje in Lilongwe, Namizimu and Makanjira in Mangochi.