Lindian Resources CEO Vorster (right) hands over the project to Eastern Region Police Commissioner Barbra Mchenga Tsiga
* The police unit is designed to provide a secure environment for both the local community and Lindian’s operations
* And aligns with the company’s community engagement plan — that demonstrate its dedication to safety, community development and corporate social responsibility
Maravi Express
As its contribution towards safety and rural growth in the community it is operating in, Australian mining company at Kangankunde in Balaka, Lindian Resources Lindian Resources Ltd, has today handed over Chanthunya police unit it constructed in the district.
The ASX-listed Australian company with world-class rare earths and bauxite assets, plans to move into the next phase of mining of the Kangankunde rare earth next year and at the handover, Chief Executive Officer, Alwyn Vorster said the investment underscores Lindian’s commitment to community engagement and social responsibility.
He added that Chanthunya police unit is designed to provide a secure environment for both the local community and Lindian’s operations, and aligns with the company’s community engagement plan — that demonstrate its dedication to safety, community development and corporate social responsibility.
“We are proud to contribute to the safety and well-being of the Chanthunya community,” Alwyn Vorster said. “This police unit represents our commitment to fostering mutual trust and cooperation, economic growth, and improved livelihoods.”
He emphasised that the company is committed to contributing to Malawi’s economic growth through its mining operations, aligning with the government’s MW2063 national vision, which aims to transform Malawi into an inclusively wealthy and self-reliant nation by 2063.
“When in operation, the Kangankunde project will provide significant economic and social benefits to Malawi, via taxes and royalties, jobs and business opportunities and social and infrastructure investment.
“Additional flow on benefits will be generated from bringing mining investment and development to the region. Through our Kangankunde Rare Earths Project, we are poised to support Malawi’s economic diversification and industrialization efforts.
“We are dedicated to responsible mining practices, ensuring benefits for both the local community while respecting traditional Malawian customs,” Vorster said.
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Vorster said corporate social responsibility is the companys policy, saying the company felt obliged to construct the police facility following concerns of increased crime in the area.
He said the company approved construction of the police post which the community once started but could not finish because of limited financial resources.
“We offered technical and financial resources for the construction of this police unit, and we are very proud to be part of this story, and we still have strong dreams for this area, for example schools, clinics just to give examples,” Vorster said.
He disclosed that the company will be present in the area for a long time, remitting taxes to government plus ploughing back to communities through various corporate social responsibilities ways and means.
“We estimate that this beautiful mountain that we will be mining on will have more than 200 years of mining reserves available, we are not talking about 10 to 20 years project, so this is for generations to come.
“The value on an annual basis could be in the order of 100 million US$ revenue, 50 million US$ of profit under the current pricing, so we feel that there are significant royalties and taxes that will go to the Malawi community.”
On his part, Lindian Resources Country Manager, Engineer Trevor Hiwa said construction of the police unit was in response to the needs of people in the area as identified through Lindian’s community engagement plan.
“The community wanted to respond to random incidences of insecurity in the area, which at times got grisly with various serious crimes being reported in the area,” he said. “The community requested us for assistance after noting that their initial efforts, which included collaboration with local Catholic priests, were taking long to materialise and we responded positively by taking up the responsibility.”
Commissioner of Police for the Eastern Region, Barbra Mchenga Tsiga said: “We welcome Lindian’s commitment to partner with us in law enforcement efforts which ensure that law, calm and order prevail during the lifespan of their Kangankunde mine.
The Police Unit will provide safety to communities in the area, which include churches, schools, a health centre and local SMEs.”
“This symbolises collaboration and commitment to security to the people of Chanthunya area. Let me urge the community here, to always take care of the structure and let them work hand in hand with the officers that will be here.
Tsiga also called on the people in the area to desist from mob justice, saying the tendency frustrates police investigation into crime cases: “We have come from afar, from a situation that the people of this area were walking from here to Balaka town to access police services.
“As police, we don’t condone mob justice. This is why I am calling upon people of this area and the country at large to always desist from this behavior immediately,” she said.
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Present was Senior Chief Chanthunya, who praised Lindian for putting the welfare of his community ahead of any commercial interests, saying: “This demonstrates that Lindian cares for the people at grassroots.”
He hailed the company for responding to the communitys need for a police facility as they mostly failed to access police services within reasonable distance at the wake of increased crime in the area.
“We have had serious crimes in this area, a lot of robbery in our communities, this beautiful police unit will go a long way in solving these problems, and we are grateful for this,” he said.
Member of Parliament for Balaka West, Bertha Ndebere said Lindian Resources Limited has also provided jobs for people in her area apart from constructing the police unit.
The magnificent Chanthunya police unit, that adds decor to the community, will provide enhanced law enforcement, community safety and sustainable livelihoods for all stakeholders by creating a conducive environment for economic growth and development activities.—Additional reporting by Mary Makhiringa, MANA
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