Malawi's female sandminers trapped by climate change dilemma

Sand mining is a growing industry for women after floods and drought

The work is hard and the pay is low

Sand mining is a major contributor to land degradation

By Charles Pensulo

The 37-year old sand-miner has no time to appreciate her surroundings. A tourist hotspot centred around the vast body of waters known as the Lake of Stars because of the brilliance of the nighttime reflections.

Wilson notices that the shoreline is receding and thinks it may be her fault. She says that she is stuck with no choice.

She said, "We think that (sand-mining) contributes to erosion. When we remove the sand from the area, water fills in the empty space."

Wilson stated, "I started sand-mining because I was stranded and unemployed." When we sell the sand, we buy food to support our household. "We also buy school supplies for the children."

In Malawi, sand mining is illegal around rivers and lakes. The law also protects rivers and the Lake Malawi Basin from human activity.

Sand mining is not only prohibited by local councils, but also thrives in unregulated areas.

Earlier this morning, women and men shovelled sand into trucks in the Maganga settlement along the shore of the lake. Along the banks of the Chingombe Stream were deep gullies.

Sand mining contributes heavily to environmental degrading, making communities more vulnerable to climate change effects, such as the increasing frequency of droughts, cyclones, and floods.

The backbreaking work, which was once dominated by men has now attracted more women and kids trying to survive after a severe drought in southern Africa dried up crops and sent millions into starvation.

El Nino is a climate phenomenon which can worsen droughts or storms, weather conditions that are more common due to climate change.

Malawi is now facing the La Nina phenomenon. This involves a cooling of ocean temperatures, and can bring about increased rainfall, soil erosion, and landslides.

Tsork Kumara, an officer of the Malawi Environment Protection Authority who monitors illegal sand-mining, says that the demand for sand and the economic necessity are driving the increase in the number of people mining it in prohibited areas.

She said that women are not in a safe position to perform these activities. The dangers of carrying wet, heavy sand, and the pollution caused by sand mining were also noted.

She said, "This is a problem that must be addressed."

No Choice

According to the United Nations, sand is the second most used resource on Earth, after water. Environment Programme. It is used to make cement, concrete, glass and tarmac.

Construction firms are booming due to the growing population in Malawi and the expansion of urban areas.

The chief of Maganga's traditional authority and hotel owners, however, say that the practice is damaging the beach and driving tourists away.

The earnings of miners such as Wilson are pitiful.

She will usually move between two and four tonnes of sand per day. Filling up a seven-tonne vehicle will earn you 30,000 Malawian Kwacha (about $17), but filling up a two-tonne vehicle only nets you 7,000 kwacha or about $4.

Wilson stated, "This is an extremely difficult job. When I get home, my joints feel as if they've dislocated. The pain is so severe."

EXACERBATING PROBLEMS

According to figures from the Ministry of Labour, Malawi ranks as one of the world's poorest countries, with formal sector employment accounting for just 11% of the total number of jobs.

In February, protests broke out in Lilongwe's capital after double-digit inflation drove street vendors to declare that they were going out of business.

Charles Bakolo is the voluntary national coordinator of the Malawi Creation Care Network. This group campaigns for stronger environmental policy.

He said that agricultural practices, especially in areas where there is extensive land clearing, also contribute to soil erosion and siltation.

He said that the Shire River is increasingly clogged with sediment, which is a problem for hydropower and agriculture in Australia.

These environmental changes not only affect our natural landscape, but directly threaten the livelihoods and livelihoods of millions Malawians who depend upon agriculture and water resources.

He said that policies are needed to support sustainable development and protect the environment, including better land management and forest protection.

Bakolo stated that if we don't act now, Malawi will face more severe environmental disasters and increased food insecurity, as well as long-term economic challenges.

Mercy Richard is a 32-year old mother of three who has been left with no maize after flooding in Chikwawa, southern Malawi, washed her crops away.

She continues to mine sand from the Mwamphanzi river, despite the fact that she is aware of the floods.

(source: Reuters)