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Catalyzing Growth: MCCCI Champions Private Sector Driven Mining Investment in Malawi

Post was last updated: January 20, 2026

Key Business Points

  • The Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) is advocating for a private sector-driven Mining Investment Fund to boost revenue generation and management in the mining sector.
  • The proposed fund would capture royalties, taxes, and equity stakes from new projects to build reserves for future generations and stabilize budgets during commodity price fluctuations.
  • The fund’s creation coincides with the planned Sovereign Wealth Fund, which aims to manage the country’s surplus revenue to generate economic benefits for its citizens, with Malawi Development Corporation Trust expected to be the investment vehicle.

The MCCCI’s proposal for a private sector-driven Mining Investment Fund is a significant development for Malawi’s business community, particularly in the mining sector. According to MCCCI chief executive officer Daisy Kambalame, the fund would provide seed capital, co-financing, or guarantees for exploration and development, reducing reliance on foreign direct investment alone. This move is expected to increase revenue generation and management in the sector, which currently contributes roughly one percent to the country’s gross domestic product.

The call for a Mining Investment Fund comes as Malawi committed to creating a Sovereign Wealth Fund, a State-owned investment fund that manages the country’s surplus revenue to generate economic benefits for its citizens. Geo-science expert Ignitious Kamwanje notes that the proposed fund’s functions are similar to those of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, as it would channel wealth to the nation through economic and infrastructure development. As Kambalame puts it, "If we were to deliberately create a policy that encourages pulling of such resources to finance that fund, we would be able to buy stock and ensure that benefits and returns are enjoyed by Malawi."

The proposal also coincides with revelations that mining tax incentives have lost their allure, according to the International Institute for Sustainable Development. Published data shows that Malawi lost $15.6 million (about K27 billion) in six years between 2009 and 2014 due to a royalty reduction for a uranium miner. This highlights the need for a more effective approach to managing the country’s mining sector, with Chamber of Mines and Energy national coordinator Grain Malunga noting that the private sector-driven mining investment fund proposal was already recommended to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation.

As Malawi works towards achieving its long-term development plan, MW2063, the mining sector is identified as a catalyst for growth. The plan’s First 10-Year Implementation Plan has identified mining as the fastest route to achieve targets, making the creation of a Mining Investment Fund a crucial step towards realizing this goal. As Kamwanje emphasizes, "This fund is important because whatever the government collects in the form of royalties, taxes, rents, and fees will be channelled into this account, thereby distributing the wealth to the nation through economic and infrastructure development." With the private sector-driven Mining Investment Fund, Malawi’s business community can look forward to increased investment opportunities and economic growth, as the country works towards achieving its development goals, and as the Chichewa proverb goes, "Makolo agho adzitchukula pakhosi" – old people’s words are like a walking stick, guiding the way forward.

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Vanessa Banda
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