The Natural Resources Justice Network (NRJN), a consortium of 45 civil society organisations (CSOs), has urged the Malawian government to enact the Mweiti Bill. This call comes as the country undergoes its third independent Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (Eiti) validation this month. The bill was drafted four years ago, but its implementation has been pending. The NRJN argues that a legally-binding framework is necessary to ensure transparency and accountability in the extractive industry.
The call for the Mweiti Bill's enactment comes amid concerns that Malawi is losing billions of kwacha through illegal mining, weak oversight, and outdated laws. Governance and industry experts have warned that the country's current regulatory framework is inadequate, leading to significant revenue losses. The NRJN believes that the bill would strengthen oversight by promoting transparency and accountability among industry players, which are currently largely voluntary.
According to the NRJN, Malawi has made progress through its participation in Eiti and the Open Government Partnership. However, as the country moves towards increased investment in the extractive sector, a voluntary framework is no longer sufficient. The network argues that a legally-binding Mweiti framework would replace the current fragile arrangement with statutory duties, mandatory disclosure, and enforceable consequences for non-compliance.
Mining expert Paul Mvula described the Mweiti Bill as critical, as it would compel companies to disclose key information, including operational data such as production figures, tax contributions, and government contract terms. Mvula said the bill is in line with the Mines and Minerals Act of 2023, which recognises that minerals and other natural resources belong to the public on behalf of citizens and, therefore, information about them should be disclosed.
Minister of Natural Resources Patricia Wiskes welcomed policies aimed at strengthening natural resource governance, including Mweiti. However, she stressed the need to improve their implementation. Wiskes said that apart from minerals, there is a serious need to strengthen governance of forestry, oil, and gas resources, particularly as 98 percent of Malawians continue to rely on biomass and other traditional energy sources, placing pressure on the country's forests.
Wiskes noted that Malawi's biggest problem is not the lack of policy, but rather the scale of implementation. The minister was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Forestry Turnaround Strategy this week. The strategy aims to improve the governance and management of Malawi's forestry resources. The minister's comments highlight the need for effective implementation of policies and laws aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the extractive industry.
The NRJN's call for the enactment of the Mweiti Bill is part of a broader effort to promote transparency and accountability in Malawi's extractive industry. The bill's implementation would help to ensure that the country's natural resources are managed in a responsible and sustainable manner, benefiting the citizens of Malawi. The NRJN's efforts are crucial in promoting good governance and ensuring that Malawi's natural resources contribute to the country's economic development.
Key points
- The Natural Resources Justice Network (NRJN) is pushing for the enactment of the Malawi Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (Mweiti) Bill.
- The bill aims to promote transparency and accountability in Malawi's mineral, forestry, oil, and gas sectors.
- The implementation of the bill would help to address concerns about illegal mining, weak oversight, and outdated laws in Malawi's extractive industry.
