Malawi backs calls for partnerships on mining

Minister of Energy and Mining Jean Mathanga has backed calls for unity and collaboration made by African leaders at the opening of the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. Commenting on the keynote speeches, the minister said Malawi remains committed to collective action through regional and continental platforms such as the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union Mining Ministers Forum. In his adress, South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe called for stronger unity and cooperation among African countries in the management of the continent’s mineral wealth.

He observed that despite Africa holding some of the world’s richest mineral deposits, the continent remains poor, a situation he attributed not to lack of resources, but weak leadership and limited cooperation among the countries. Mantashe noted that African countries have over time surrendered control of their mineral resources to external actors, leaving the continent dependent on others for the exploitation and benefits of its own natural wealth. He stressed that this situation should change if Africa is to fully benefit from its endowments, adding that the 2026 African Mining Indaba theme, Stronger Together Through Partnerships, is timely as it underscores the need for governments to work with each other and private investors to build resilient and mutually beneficial mining partnerships across the continent.

On his part, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema commended South Africa’s leadership for championing continental cooperation in the mining sector. He urged African countries to move away from competition and embrace collaboration, noting that collective action is essential for unlocking shared economic growth and long-term success. Hichilema further observed that Africa faces common structural challenges including inadequate infrastructure, climate change pressures and limited access to capital, which continue to undermine the continent’s efficiency and global competitiveness. First Capital Bank, through its holding company FMB Capital Holdings, has partnered the ministry to support Malawi’s participation at the meeting being held under the theme ‘Stronger together: Progress through partnerships’.