It has been established that the Shire Valley District of Nsanje has 21 precious known minerals which if they are properly utilised will create job opportunities in the district as well as the country.
Lands Ministry Deputy Director for Quality Assurance Blessings Mpanda said this during stakeholders meeting in the district.
He said the district has many precious minerals, but at the same time only 21 are viable for exploration.
Mpanda told ProjectM that some of the known minerals found in Nsanje include coal, copper, gold, limestone, lead, zinc, uranium and heavy minerals.
“The district is naturally rich with a number of minerals but as of now twenty-one are known,” he said.
The Deputy Director also revealed that the resources in Nsanje are based on an economy with 78.5% of the economically active population relying on agriculture and fishing for income.
Nsanje District Council Financial Committee Chairperson, Hackeem Abdul Hassan said the mining can transform Nsanje economically.
He said if mining can be enhanced in the district, there will be more opportunities for employment.
“Markets for selling the minerals are not around in the district which again is posing for the locals to sell the minerals,” said the chairperson.
