The parliamentary committee on mining and Natural Resources has called on government to intensify laws that prohibit illegal mining as reports indicate that the misconduct is on rise in the country.

The call also comes at a time there are reports that some traders are smuggling gold to oversee countries for search of better prices than those offered by Malawi’s sole buyer, the Central Bank.

Chairperson for the committee Werani Chilenga believes that without intensifying the laws, the country will continue losing a lot from the illegal trading of its non-renewable resources.

Chilenga says government should start issuing licenses to the small scale miners as a way bringing sanity in the sector.