This follows the expiry of a 30-day timeframe for the company to honor unpaid tax revenue from its subsidiary, Nyala Mines Limited, in respect of ruby and sapphire extracted from Chimwadzulu Mine in Ntcheu.

Nyirenda wrote the firm on July 26, 2022, indicating that the government will take the court route should the company fail to comply with the claim.

Speaking to Zodiak Online on Wednesday, Nyirenda confirmed that the company has neither responded nor paid the claim, forcing the government to file money laundering case at the court.

"We do not have a response so far. I detailed what we should do if there is no response that is to pursuing legal proceedings.  We will file money laundering and other claims", Nyirenda said.

Economics Professor Betchani Tchereni says this is a lesson learnt to put strict measures on concessions to guard the country’s resources, adding court proceedings might take ages.

"Everytime we are entering into any sort of agreements we need to be deligent enough knowing that the resources God given us belong to us not an individual. We must remember the kind of incentives on concessions we give as a country, that cannot happen in other countries," he said.

Most mines in Malawi are owned by foreign companies.