- Northern Malawi is home to the country’s largest coalfields, providing energy for a variety of industries, but some of the mines here have been linked to labor law violations and environmental damage.
- In a recent incident, a community in one of the major coal mining areas demanded the closure of a mine, saying it was polluting two rivers from which local residents draw water for domestic and agricultural purposes.
- A preliminary investigation by the government agency found evidence of pollution from a mine operated by Coal and Minerals Group Limited, but the company denies intentionally releasing waste into the river.
- The company’s mining permit was suspended because, based on the findings of the regulator, the company’s operations “seriously threaten” the safety and health of people and the environment.
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Malawi’s government has suspended a coal company’s mining license for dumping mining waste into two rivers that local communities depend on for water.
The suspension follows an uproar by one of the communities in northern Malawi’s mining hub. Local residents demanded the mine’s closure, saying it was polluting the river that supplies domestic and agricultural water. A preliminary survey by the government agency responsible for water and environment confirmed the contamination.
The northern region, particularly two districts of Karonga and Lumpi, are home to Malawi’s largest coal mines. The country relies on coal for everything from curing tobacco to producing cement. But the area’s mines have a track record of environmental damage and labor violations, which both local human rights groups and global watchdog Human Rights Watch have exposed.
In a letter dated April 8, 2026, the Malawi Mining and Minerals Regulatory Authority (MMRA) announced the immediate suspension of the mining license of Coal and Minerals Group Limited, which operates the contaminated mine. The report said water pollution “seriously threatens” public health and safety and the environment.
The MMRA said an investigation by government regulators found evidence of discharges of coal-related waste into two rivers, uncontrolled spills from mines and stockpiles, and poorly designed storage facilities to store mining waste and tailings. Authorities also noted that the company did not have critical plans in place, including a mine operations plan, mine waste management plan, and mine closure and rehabilitation plan, as required by law.
Officials from the Ministry of Mines, local councils and traditional leaders inspected what the miners claim is a tailings dam, but NRWA and MEPA officials found it did not meet required standards. Image by Jordan Simeon Pili of Mongabay.
In the latest incident, a video shot by a community member in Karonga province went viral on social media in Malawi in early April, showing river water turning black in areas where the company operates. After the video surfaced, the district council team conducted an inspection on April 2 and found that the mine was the source of pollution in the two rivers.
Rivers provide water for washing, bathing, domestic use, and livelihood activities such as livestock rearing and agriculture.
The council said in a report dated April 3 that solid and liquid coal waste from mining operations was discharged into the river by storms and deliberate discharge by the company. Malawi Environmental Protection Agency (MEPA) and National Water Resources Authority (NRWA) confirmed the discovery in a joint survey on April 5.
Following the incident, the region’s traditional leader, Supreme Chief Kyonggu, condemned the pollution and called on the government to shut down the mine if it is found to be in violation of the law.
“The government should intervene to contain the situation and prevent the public and the environment from suffering while investors profit,” Kyong said in a statement, calling on the public to audit all mining companies in the region for regulatory compliance.
The company is headquartered in Mzuzu, the region’s main city, and has been operating the mine for five years. Coal dust from the mine contaminated vegetation and farmland in the early stages of operation, said Kingdom Malanga, chairman of the regional development committee representing local communities.
“However, the situation has worsened recently and on March 24, 2026, we met with the mine management,” Malanga told Mongabay. “Among other things, we told them to build embankments to prevent coal waste from flowing into the river. They did nothing.
“We are calling on the government to shut down this mine because it is clearly not complying with regulations, destroying our lifeline rivers and putting our health at risk,” he said.
National Water Resources Authority (NRWA) and Malawi Environmental Protection Agency (MEPA) personnel conducting testing and sample collection. Image by Jordan Simeon Pili of Mongabay.
In December 2025, Mr. Malanga led a team of chiefs and local residents to tour the mine, where they expressed concerns about the environmental impact of the operation. They said the company had not fulfilled its promise to build classroom blocks in two schools and support farmers affected by mining activities.
In a written response to Mongabay before the license suspension was made public, the mining company’s managing director, Manowa Mukandawire, said the company was aware of community concerns about its mining operations, but denied it had intentionally discharged coal waste into the river.
“Our operations operate under strict environmental regulations and are subject to regular inspections by relevant authorities,” Mukandawire said. “In fact, routine inspections were conducted approximately two weeks before these reports and no such issues were identified.”
He also acknowledged that local residents have asked the company to build embankments to prevent coal waste from flowing into rivers, and that such measures are part of the company’s environmental management plan.
“We are currently working closely with authorities and technical experts to fully assess the situation and ensure that necessary corrective measures are taken,” Mukandawire said.
He added that following the incident, the company developed an “environmental compliance and river protection program” aimed at eliminating coal waste pollution and protecting surrounding communities. Cleanup will be carried out within 60 days.
Kossam Muntari heads the Community Support Services Foundation, a human rights NGO based in Karonga district, where the latest incident occurred. He told Mongabay by phone that the continued environmental damage and human rights violations in the region’s coal mines demonstrate the inefficiency of Malawi’s regulatory system.
“Given the credible investigations into these violations, if the authorities had acted decisively on the basis of previous findings, similar violations would not be in the news today,” Muntari said.
He said Malawi’s law makes clear the actions the government must take against mining activities that violate the law, including requiring violators to compensate affected communities or even face closure.
Excavation of the mine revealed that it is a source of pollution for two rivers in Karonga district. Image by Jordan Simeon Pili of Mongabay.
“These incidents have been occurring for decades, many of them known to the government, but the government has not responded,” Muntari said. “Environmental impact assessment plans give the impression that they are just a procedure for companies to obtain licenses. There are vested interests in these projects and public interest does not seem to be a priority.”
O’Brien Chirwa, environmental information and education manager at MEPA, the environmental regulator established in 2019, said his office had not received any complaints about the mine. He also said that MEPA and other government departments regularly inspect mining sites to ensure compliance.
“But we cannot be everywhere, so we also hope that the public will take an interest in mining activities in the area and raise the alarm about what is happening,” Chirwa told Mongabay by phone. “We will act immediately, just as we are now.”
The incident is the latest controversy surrounding mining in the region. In 2023, the Malawi Human Rights Commission, a statutory body, investigated two coal mines in Karonga district and found that workers were paid less than the government-mandated minimum wage and were working without contracts or protective equipment. The investigation also found that the mine was destroying agricultural land in surrounding villages through unregulated disposal of coal dust and mine debris.
In 2016, Human Rights Watch documented environmental and human rights violations at coal mines in Lumpi and Karonga districts, blaming many of the abuses on the government’s failure to monitor operations.
Muntari said Malawi has adequate laws in place to govern mining. “Our challenge is law enforcement, which is why these mines do nothing to protect people and the environment,” he said.
The MMRA suspension will remain in effect until the company meets several conditions, including an immediate cessation of discharges of untreated mine water into rivers. Construction of a properly designed and approved tailing dam. Submit and implement a plan to clean up contaminated rivers.
The agency also fined Coal & Minerals Group Limited $8,500 and directed the company to cease mining activities.
Failure to comply with a stop is a violation, and mine officials found responsible may be fined up to $17,000 or imprisoned for 10 years, and the mine’s license may be revoked.
Banner image: Excavation of the mine revealed that it is a source of pollution for two rivers in Karonga district. Image by Jordan Simeon Pili of Mongabay.
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