http://www.faceofmalawi.com/2014/01/mutharika-to-return-on-friday-dpp-online-paper-says-will-come-with-billions-of-dollars-and-four-helicopters/

” data-medium-file=”../../2015/07/peter-mutharika.jpg?w=470&h=264?w=300″ data-large-file=”../../2015/07/peter-mutharika.jpg?w=470&h=264?w=470″ class=”size-full wp-image-7203″ src=”../../2015/07/peter-mutharika.jpg” alt=”President of Malawi, Arthur Peter Mutharika (Courtesy of Face of Malawi)” width=”470″ height=”264″ srcset=”../../2015/07/peter-mutharika.jpg 470w, ../../2015/07/peter-mutharika.jpg 940w, ../../2015/07/peter-mutharika.jpg 150w, ../../2015/07/peter-mutharika.jpg 300w, ../../2015/07/peter-mutharika.jpg 768w” sizes=”(max-width: 470px) 100vw, 470px”/>

President of Malawi, Arthur Peter Mutharika (Courtesy of Face of Malawi)

In June 2015, the current administration celebrated one year in office. The Democratic Progressive Party‘s President Arthur Peter Mutharika was elected as president in the tripartite elections in May 2014.

Mutharika gave a speech to mark his first year in office which focussed on achievements of the last year. Mining was included and according to Mutharika,

In the past 12 months:

• We launched the Mines and Minerals Policy for Malawi for implementation over a period of five years.
• Realised the feasbility studies for Kanyika Niobium project in Mzimba, Kangankude Rare Earth project in Balaka and the Songwe Rare Earth project in Phalombe.

[…] We will be introducing a number of new laws in such areas as mining, information etc.

This is misleading as the Mines and Minerals Policy was launched 26 months ago. On Wednesday 10 April 2013, the event which we covered was opened by John Bande, Minister of Mining in the former Joyce Banda administration.

The Policy was developed over a number of years running up to 2013 including the period when the current president’s brother, Bingu wa Mutharika, was head of state.