The Nyasa Mining Cooperative (NMC) has announced its plans to hold the 2020 Artisanal Small Miners (ASMs) Annual General Conference in August in Lilongwe this year.

Speaking to The Nation newspaper, NMC chairperson Percy Maleta said the conference, expected to attract 200 mining stakeholders, will adhere to novel coronavirus (Covid-19) precautionary measures.

The idea of forming Nyasa Mining Cooperative Society Limited, was born from a WhatsApp chat group called Gemstones Gallery, it encompasses individuals who are in the mining industry, as miners, brokers, traders, etc. The inception was in February 2016 when a draft Constitution was adopted and an interim committee was nominated.

The NMC introduction reads, “In April 2016, as per the rules of Malawi requirement to register a cooperative, we underwent a week long training, facilitated by the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Tourism who are also the Registrar of Cooperatives. We then amended the Constitution to be in line with what we had learned from the training and drafted By-Laws to govern the cooperative.”