MANJA MAN EARNING A LIVING THROUGH LOCAL QUARRY MINING

  While crime rate is increasing among the youth due to lack of unemployment, a 32-year-old in Manja, Blantyre is earning a living through quarry mining using local tools and equipment.

Joseph Phiri, a married man with three children started quarry Mining way back in 2012 after several unsuccessful Job interviews with Security companies around Blantyre.

Being a man of the family, Phiri needed to find a way of sustaining the needs of the family and among the glaring opportunities Phiri decided to try out the local quarry mining business.

“After being unsuccessful in several Security job Interviews, I understood that I quickly needed to find something to do so as to find money for food, rentals and fees for my kids and the whole family. So, I decided to join some people who were already in the local quarry mining business at that time.” Phiri narrated.

  Phiri hitting a large quarry  stone

Phiri continued to say that since then his family has depended on the quarry business for everything be it food, fees, and other utilities at home.

However, Phiri has complained that his quarry business is being impacted with a lot of challenges which include scarcity of the quarry stones and firewood around the area.

“When I joined this business there were several stones all over this place but they are now all gone so to find them we have to dig them up. Then, we also need firewood to heat the stones so as to easily crack them up but firewood is scarce around here” Phiri lamented

Dug out stone, heated before hitting

Phiri has therefore appealed to well-wishers to help him with modern mining equipment so as to increase production. 

“I sometimes receive too much orders which do match with my slow production. So, if I can be helped with tools than can be faster than the hoes, and hammers we use then I will be able to deliver in time.” Said the quarry miner.