The Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) has thrown its support behind community-centered mining efforts in Kasiya, Lilongwe, praising Sovereign Services for its environmental restoration work and community engagement as it advances its graphite and rutile project.
Speaking during the high-level visit to the site, Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet Janet Banda, who is also head of PDU, applauded the company’s early gains in soil and environmental restoration.
“We are very impressed with the growth of crops like maize and bamboo, which are thriving even more than in areas which have not undergone any soil disturbance. This demonstrates how Sovereign is prioritising environmental and livelihood restoration concerns, said Banda.
The site visit comes amid growing scrutiny of how mining and exploration activities affect local communities, a tension that the government aims to resolve through closer engagement and clearer communication.
Sovereign Services is currently conducting a Definitive Feasibility Study, the final regulatory step under the Mines and Minerals Act (2023) before applying for a large-scale mining license. The company has an exploration license only at this stage.
Sovereign’s Country Manager, Maxwell Kazako, said the project, still in its feasibility stage, could bring long-term benefits for Malawi.
“This initiative has the potential to be life-changing for your families and will positively impact generations to come, benefiting the entire nation of Malawi for the next 25 to 50 years,” Kazako said.
He further noted that the project will spark secondary economic development, jobs, and upskilling for local residents.
