Mineral laws are expected to be revised to offer equal benefits to both Malawians and mineral investors.

Minister of Mines John Bande said the government would make sure that the mineral sector is performing well in the country.

He said mining is one of the priorities in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy II and also an area of emphasis in the Economic Recovery Plan.

"As a ministry we are working very hard to make sure that mining becomes a major contributor to the national economy. We realise the importance of having good legislations and working regulatory frameworks and as such we are revising all Mining laws.

"The Mineral Policy was already adopted and the Mines and Minerals Act will be submitted to parliament before the end of this year, June specifically," said Bande.

He said the Act on petroleum is being revised and a policy being formulated.

"We will also be advancing the formation of chamber of mines. Through the mining governance and growth support project we are also expected to develop cooperatives for small scale mining which is one of the components of the project," he said.

Bande said his ministry will work together with cooperatives registrar and the one village one product (Ovop) project under the ministry of industry and trade to advance concepts of small scale mining.

"We would also want to promote transparency and efficiency by formulation of a corporate office responsible for public relations and legal unit for agreement negotiations," he said.

Currently Malawi is using the 1981 Minerals and Mines Act which stipulates that, 'The entire property in, and control over, minerals in land in Malawi are vested in the President on behalf of the people of Malawi; but without prejudice to the exercise of any right under or pursuant to this Act'.