Yesterday I officially opened Malingunde Community Centre which...

Yesterday I officially opened Malingunde Community Centre which has been funded by Sovereign Metals Limited, a company currently implementing the Graphite Mining Project under my Ministry in Malingunde, Lilongwe.
This Community Center which is a magnificent hall will provide services to residents of Traditional Authority Masumbankhunda. It will give people in the area an opportunity to socialise, learn and access key services for their vitality and development. Sovereign Metals Limited constructed this hall as a sign of appreciation of a very good working relationship between the company and the communities in the area.
I was also reliably informed that this was not the first time for Sovereign to offer its Corporate Social responsibility obligations to this area. The Company previously constructed two boreholes for Kumalindi and Ndumila villages and repaired one for Chiyamika Village in this area when requested by the community.
Recently, the company submitted to my Ministry an application for Mining Licence for consideration and approval. The application is currently being reviewed.
This Company is also seeking environmental authorisation for the implementation of the Project from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, through the Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA).
Meanwhile, the Company is updating its Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) in accordance with Section 150 of the Mines and Minerals Act (No.8 of 2019). The final RAP will include a full inventory of the land owners and their property, including the market-related value at the time of all community assets that will be impacted.
I therefore, implored and encouraged stakeholders and communities around the Project to continue with their normal lives and activities, including cultivating their fields. I asked the communities to never change their farming practices or lifestyle at all in anticipation for the mining phase until the Resettlement Action Plan is completed and the mine is fully permitted and financed. Thus, communities should not abandon their fields until such a time compensations for resettlement are made and the Company is ready to commence mine development.
Lastly, I call upon other mineral exploration and mining companies as well as organizations to emulate the good gesture demonstrated by Sovereign and join hands with the Government under the leadership of His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the President of the Republic of Malawi, to pursue his vision of improving the lives of the people, particularly, those in marginalized communities.