Leonard Kalindekafe

Academic and professional qualifications:

  1.  PhD (2007, Mineral Law and Policy), University of Dundee, Scotland, UK. Thesis Title: Mining Policy Formulation: Analyzing The Role Of Stakeholder Dynamics.
  2. Master of Science (Geology): Joint University of Malawi and Saskatchewan- Canada (1992).
  3. Bachelor of Science-Geology (with credit): University of Malawi, Chancellor College (1986).

 Job Responsibilities:

The Ndata School of Climate and Earth Sciences is one of the Five Schools at MUST. Its mandate: To provide training to both undergraduates and postgraduates, conduct research and consultancy services in Earth and Climate Sciences for Socio-Economic growth and Sustainable Development of the country. The School has four Departments namely: Earth Sciences, Climate Sciences, Water Resources Management and Energy Resources Management Departments. The School’s main areas of focus are training and research in climate and Earth Sciences including issues of Climatology, Meteorology (plus lightning and electromagnetics studies), Energy Resources, Artisanal and Small Scale Mining, mineral exploration, geological mapping, mineral economics, mining governance, disaster risk management, water resources management and water quality. As Executive Dean, I am the technical and administrative Manager of the School. In the past I have taught geology especially geological mapping, mineral exploration, mineral economics, geochemistry etc. I have also supervised Masters students. Currently I am supervising two Masters Students at MUST (entrepreneurship and innovation).

International

  1. Chairman of the United Nations-founded: Intergovernmental Forum on Mining Minerals Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) (2009-2013). Re-Elected by acclamation (Nov. 2011 to Nov 2013). As Chair, I initiated the formulation of the first ever Mining Policy Framework for the UN and others to use as a Global Model. The model was finalized and now being applied by so many countries.

Also started the process of formulating the Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) policy framework for the IGF. Information can be found at: www.globaldialogue.info

  1. Honorary Associate from the Graduate School of Natural Resources, Law, Policy And Management (University Of Dundee, Scotland, Uk) from 2nd December, 2014.
  2. African Union (AU): Over the years I have been part of the Malawi team which was involved in the drafting of the African Mining Vision document which was adopted by the African Heads of State and Governments in February 2009.
  3. Southern Africa Development Community (SADC): Was part of the Malawi team which was part of the team which was formulating the SADC Mining Protocol (2006) and also the framework for Harmonisation Of Mining Policies, Standards, Legislative And Regulatory Frameworks (approved by SADC Mining Ministers in Antananarivo, Madagascar in 2006).
  4. New Partnership for Africa (NEPAD). This is the African Union economic development programme. Over the years, as part of the Malawi team, I have been involved in programmes of NEPAD which revolve around eradicating poverty and the promotion of sustainable development.
  5. After being elected as an Assistant Secretary General of the Geological Society of Africa (GSA) (1995 to 1998), I took the initiative to establish the Geological Society of Malawi (GSM) which was launched on the 23rd September 2000.
  6. Have researched and advised various mining companies on mining potential and investment environment in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Mauritania, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Morocco, Niger, Chad, Zimbabwe, Tanzania etc.
  7. Since 1986 I have made hundreds of presentations locally, regionally and internationally on mining investments and mineral law and policy issues as an individual (company, university, government invitations), as Malawi Government delegations and as UN and UNCTAD delegations.
  8. Was Fellow of the Geological Society of London for several years from 21st April, 2010.

Employment history:

  1. Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Mining of Malawi (Dec. 2012- August 2014), I was Chief Technical and Administrative Advisor to government on mining policy and law issues. Initiated and Chaired the formulation of the first Mining Policy For Malawi. The policy was approved by Cabinet in February, 2013.
  2. As Director of Mines of Malawi (1997 to 2000), I was involved in: Mining legislation, safety, health, environmental issues, small-scale & artisanal miners management and mineral promotion.
  3. As Director of Geological Survey Department of Malawi (Nov. 2002 to Dec. 2012) involved in: Mining policy formulation, managing and supervising mineral exploration programmes.
  4. Geologist, Geological Survey Department of Malawi (1986 – 1997).

Research:

I drafted proposal, lobbied and spearheaded the initial implementation stages of the Malawi’s Mining Governance And Growth Support Project (MGGSP), Project ID P120825, 31st March, 2011. World Bank (25 US$ million) and EU funding the project. Total project cost = US$ 30,660,000. Project themes: Capacity-building, Institutional development and Artisanal and Small Scale Mining. Additional funding by the French Government = Euros 10,812,758.1. This is targeting geological mapping and capacity building.

 Publication:

Some of my publications include a book chapter in “The distribution and origin of clay mineral in the sediments of Lake Malawi”. Journals and conference proceedings in areas such as Geology and economic potential of Malawi carbonatites; Rephosphatisation at waterbed in certain sediments of Southern Lake Malawi; the Physical Characteristics of Lake Malawi ferromanganese nodules; the Mineralogy of Lake Malawi phosphatic sand crusts: the Mineralogy of Lake Malawi Ferromanganese Nodules; Seismic and aseismic slip evolution and deformation associated with the 2009-2010 northern Malawi earthquake swarm, East African Rift; Comparative analysis of the distribution, composition and geochemistry of surface sediments in the Linthipe and Songwe River Deltas of Lake Malawi; Fault zone deformation during and after the 2009 Northern Malawi seismic sequence; Faulting processes during early-stage rifting: seismicity analysis of the 2009-2010 Northern Malawi earthquake sequence; East African Megadroughts between 135 and 75 thousand years ago and bearing on early-modern human origins; Initial Results of Scientific Drilling on Lake Malawi, East African Rift; Acquisition of a Unique Onshore/Offshore Geophysical and Geochemical Dataset in the Northern Malawi (Nyasa) Rift.

Related Sessions

Special session on Malawi 3 Location: Date: February 27, 2017 Time: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm View session

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