The article examines how young people and women in Malawi are organizing to overcome barriers in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector. It focuses on the experience of Flore-Annie Kamanga, who entered mining through family influence and later rose to leadership as president of the Federation of Women and Youth in Mining (FWYM). The federation was established to respond to policy gaps, limited access to finance and legal constraints affecting women and youth in the extractive industry.
The story highlights challenges faced by federation members, including limited government support, slow authorization processes, and restricted access to loans from commercial banks. Kamanga and other miners argue that small-scale miners are overlooked in favor of large-scale operators, despite their potential contribution to employment and economic growth. Artisanal miner Nyson Phiri describes how the federation has improved members’ understanding of mining laws and formalization procedures.
The article places these experiences within the broader context of small-scale mining in Malawi, noting its importance for rural livelihoods and poverty reduction. It also outlines ongoing concerns related to informality, environmental degradation, and safety, while referencing government efforts to develop a policy framework to regulate and support the sector more effectively.
Written by Chancy Namadzunda. This article, first published by Atlas Media, is part of the Media Parity Capacity Building Programme and republished as part of the programme series.
LINK TO PUBLISHED STORY
https://atlasmalawi.com/youth-unite-to-break-barriers-in-extractive-sector/
DISCLAIMER:
This media article was co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the EU Marang Fund media Partner, L'express, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
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