A senior government official has called for the establishment of a legal framework to regulate and formalise mining activities in Luapula Province.
Acting Mansa District Commissioner Charles Makwaya observed that government was loosing revenue from mining companies and individuals operating in the area because of lack of legal framework to regulate the mining and mineral prospecting activities.
He said some mining activities were being conducted without impact assessment from the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) and were causing degradation to the environment in the area.
Mr. Makwaya was speaking at his office when he received State House Chief Analyst for Policy Implementation and Monitoring (PIM) Tobias Mulimbika who paid a courtesy call on him .
The DC said there was need to legalise the activities so that mining companies and individuals are compelled to come up with programmes to mitigate the impact of mining activities on the infrastructure and environment.
“It has become very difficult for government to regulate the mining activities because we don’t have a legal framework to do so, that’s why we have a lot of illegal mining companies and individuals operating from whom we can’t even benefit but are using our roads to transport the minerals,” Mr Makwaya.
Mr Makwaya said the increased mining activities in the district had continued to deplete reserved forests especially in chief Matanda’s area.
There have been increased mining activities in Luapula Province which has attracted both local and foreign companies , that have ventured into mining of manganese and copper which is sold abroad.
ZANIS/CB/MKM/ENDS
Good idea but what next?
:)>-
Please leave my province alone.
Revenue collection is one thing. expenditure is another.
To make my point Clear at #1
A lot of good ideas have been uttered but in the end little or nothing is done to implement them!!
Let us watch this closely and wait.
hi all
#5 Morning J
This is a good idea. this is what we want to hear.
A % of proceeds from the mines should to be used to improve the locals aswell.
This is 1st DC I have seen making sense. He speaks like a proper civil servant with a vision for future and the impact these activities may have in the province. For one me I do not support to have mines all over the country. It would be safer to promote food production in certain areas and mining in others. We have not finished the copper on CB and therefore there is no need to panic now as we might end with a lot of disused pits allover Zambia
8. Deja Vu ,
You are so easily influenced why , these pipo want to pull a fast on on you and you are sleeping.
Wake up man.
Guten Morgen Bruder L, remember this is Zambia, where unfortunately, politicians’ words still weigh more than their action.
#8 Ba Honey. Iknow, its only what he said made sense and may be thats why he is just acting DC since in MMD no one is allowed to think except for the Big Man
Where is Luapula Province?
It seems there are plenty of chances.
Mr Makwaya’s observations are valid, wise and well meaning for the country. The massage was also addressed to the right person. We are confident that the State House Analyst will take this issue with the gravity it requires. The massage requires recommendations from the legal specialists and urgent political intervention. Thereafter it must be tabled as national agenda and not as a provisional matter. The legal frame work raised must not only apply to mining companies but to all business and all investors who have taken advantage of the current porous laws.