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By AFP
Lilongwe, Malawi: Malawi has frozen exports of gemstones and precious minerals and stopped issuing new mineral export licences while it reforms the way the sector is administered, the government said late on Wednesday.
The southern African nation has significant mineral deposits, including uranium, rubies and sapphires but, unlike its neighbours, has yet to maximise their benefits.
“This measure has been taken in order to sanitise the mining sector as the ministry will be undertaking some reforms to bring in efficiency and transparency in the mineral rights administration,” mining minister Joseph Mkandawire said in a post on Facebook.
The export ban comes into force “with immediate effect” and will last until further notice, the mining ministry said in a separate statement.
