By Elia Chibwe

Lilongwe, August 27, MANA: Environment Activists have urged Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) to create more awareness on dangers of illegal sand mining, highlighting that there are increased cases of illegal sandy mining in the cities across the country as people have insufficient information about the dangers of such practice.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency-MANA, Environment activist, Mathews Malata said MEPA has to create more awareness on dangers of illegal sand mining to prevent consequences followed by the practice.

"We need to create awareness on the dangers of sand mining as it appears that most people are not fully aware of the consequences that come a long with sand mining. We need to sensitize people on procedures, which ought to be followed for people to do sand mining, as it is not completely prohibited.

"Sand mining can lead to significant issues, including landslides, which pose serious risks to life. In severe cases, landslides can even result in fatalities," Malata said.

He said illegal sand mining brings disruption on ecosystem such as land degradation and environment degradation.

"When discussing biodiversity, significant disturbances can occur, and in some cases of flooding, rivers may take new courses that did not happen in the past," he said.

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He added that illegal sand mining also affect the quality of water and that affects preservation of marine species.

Spokesperson for Lilongwe City Council, Tamara Chafunya, said the council has witnessed a number of people practicing illegal sand mining along riverbanks, which has enforced them to enforce the laws in fear of the consequences of the practice.

"In Lilongwe, we have observed that many people are engaging in illegal sand mining along riverbanks. Recently, the Lilongwe City Council has been actively enforcing the law along the Lilongwe River."

"As we know that the impacts of illegal sand mining are environment degradation and occurrences of over flooding during the rainy season," Chafunya said.

She said they would continue arresting those who would continue mining illegally.

According to Chafunya, most affected rivers within Lilongwe city are Lilongwe, Lingadzi, Nankhaka and Chankhandwe River.