CDEDI calls for urgent action on Portland Cement factory waste management

By IOMMIE CHIWALO
Concerned by life-threatening waste disposal by Portland Cement factory in Balaka, Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) is pressing for an urgent attention from the relevant authorities including the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining.

At a fact validation mission in Balaka where CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa accompanied by Senior Chief Nsamala and concerned citizens, described the situation as appalling and a clear violation of right to clean and health environment.

According to Namiwa, the situation is compounded by the absence of an environmental social impact assessment(ESIA) since the Chinese firm is riding on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that belonging to Larfarge conduct in 2010 but this current project commenced in 2023.

He therefore, challenged that CDEDI will engage authorities to do an analysis of the both the discharge and the accompanying solid waste from the factory.

“What we have observed is something terrible and though we are not environmental experts, from the look of things there are clear signs of environmental pollution. It is sad both solid and liquid waste are freely flowing from the factory into maize fields going down the stream to Nkundi River before reaching Liwawadzi river,” he said.

Proceeding on duty to protect the masses through tangible and desirable actions, CDEDI Executive Director discloses that they have collected the samples in form of water and Pulp waiting to be tested by the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS).

“It is sad that factory officials refused to accompany us but still we expect that Portland Cement factory is a compliant company not only to Malawi’s environmental guidelines but also international standards and is disappointing to learn that are failing to manage their own waste ,” he said.

Senior Chief Nsamala where the factory operates under his jurisdiction, also expresses worry over the situation saying there is need for an urgent attention before the situation goes out of hand.

Alinafe Ndanga, a concerned citizen whose maize field is among the affected did not mince words calling for an urgent address on the matter as it is directly affecting the lives of people in the surrounding area.

Recently CDEDI wrote Ministry of labour to suspend operations at Portland Cement company, Balaka factory pending environmental impact assessment report but recently the company launched its operations despite the request from the credible watchdog.

Meanwhile there is no response from the company on why they refused to accompany CDEDI team, District Council officials and concerned citizens yet the companies are mandated to be accountable to the surrounding communities.