By CIJM

Foundation for Irrigation and Sustainable Development (Fisd) has embarked on  granite rocks exploration in Kafukule, the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Mtwalo in Mzimba.

The project comes at a time when chiefs in the district threatened to shut down mining activities mostly done by nationals of China without valid documentations.

However, addressing a district executive committee (DEC) meeting  on Tuesday, Fisd Limited executive director Kondwani Nanchukwa said they have followed all necessary procedures to conduct the mining project.

“We were given a licence by the Malawi Government to conduct mining exploration specifically for granites and now we are in the process of engaging all district stakeholders involved,” he said.

Nanchukwa also said they have conducted a feasibility study at the project site and it gave them an indication of granites availability.

He then assured that the project, once started, will benefit the communities through job creation, road construction and bringing electricity to the area.

M’mbelwa District Council irrigation officer George Gopani asked Fisd to ensure transparency and accountability in the project implementation and guarantee that communities around the project site will benefit.