The Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA) on Monday held a stakeholder consultation meeting in Blantyre as part of the process of developing its Five-Year Strategic Plan aimed at strengthening governance and regulation of the country’s mining sector.
The consultation sought to gather views and recommendations from key stakeholders on mining-related issues that should be addressed in the Strategic Plan, which will guide the Authority’s operations over the next five years.
Speaking during the official opening of the meeting, MMRA Acting Director General Lloyd Muhara said the Strategic Plan would serve as the Authority’s blueprint for effectively delivering its mandate.
He said the plan is expected to strengthen regulatory oversight, promote transparency and good governance, facilitate investment in the mining sector, and enhance the institution’s capacity to execute its responsibilities.
“The Strategic Plan we are developing is not merely an institutional document. It is a public and living document that will guide how the Authority contributes to national development through effective mineral resource governance,” Muhara said.
He added that the plan would be aligned with key national and sectoral development frameworks, including Malawi Vision 2063, the Malawi Implementation Plan I (MIP-1), the Agriculture, Tourism, Mining and Manufacturing (ATMM) Strategy, and the Economic Recovery Plan.
Muhara acknowledged the challenges currently affecting the mining sector, including illegal mining activities, weak enforcement mechanisms, environmental concerns, and institutional capacity constraints.
He said the Authority was keen to hear stakeholders’ perspectives on how best to address these challenges and create a more sustainable and productive mining industry.
“As we deliberate today, let us collectively shape a Strategic Plan that will position the MMRA as a strong, credible and effective regulator capable of contributing meaningfully to socio-economic transformation through sustainable mineral resource management,” he said.
The consultation brought together participants from civil society organisations, academic institutions, the media, the Blantyre District Council, government ministries, mining industry players and financial institutions.
The stakeholder engagement forms part of MMRA’s broader efforts to ensure that the Strategic Plan reflects the aspirations and priorities of all key actors in the mining sector while supporting Malawi’s long-term development agenda.