Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala has threatened to dissolve the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) if it continues to be a ‘stumbling block’ to government efforts to develop the country.
Ms. Namugala says she will take action against the ECZ if the it allows itself to be politicized to an extent where it inhibits government efforts to create an enabling environment for enterprise to thrive.
The Minister says she will not hesitate to replace the Council with one that fully understands the need and has aspirations to develop the country.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Ms. Namugala lamented that the Council delayed to approve the application by High Towers that has been engaged to develop the Manda Hill Extension Project in Lusaka.
She said the developer submitted the application to the Council six months ago in April but the Council just approved the application on October 5th a situation that has upset the Minister.
Ms. Namugala said ECZ was consulted and involved in the works and that the High Towers fully complied with the provisions of the law.
She reminded the Council to be a partner in the economic development of the country and not to undermine government’s efforts to reduce poverty among the people.
She said government recognizes the need to protect the environment; but that its is also in a hurry to provide jobs to the local people so that they can lead dignified lives.
And Ms. Namugala has urged politicians not to politicize the process of development because this would only undermine the country’s prospects of attracting investors and lessen the burden of high poverty faced by the people.[quote]
Ms. Namugala said she expects the Council to inform investors in good time without unnecessary delays because the investors have got the right to invest somewhere else other than in Zambia.
“If ECZ allows itself to be politicized to the extent that it becomes a stumbling block to government efforts of developing the country, I will not hesitate to dissolve the Council and replace it with one that understands the urgent need to develop our country.
As government, we look forward to see jobs created at Manda Hill project so that our people lead dignified lives thereby reduce the burden of poverty,” Ms. Namugala said.
ZANIS
The problem is that you are always in the Challenger Jet iwe ka Namugala !
Twapapata dont destroy everything before you leave in 2011. Leave ECZ alone to do their job. Money should be no guarantee for foreigners to take away our sovereignity, and have it easy as we dance to their tune. Let them take their money elsewhere, we can take our pace to develope. Newzealand has refused to do mines, despite having good mineral deposits, they dont want to destroy their country and they have left it for their children.
Abash you destroyers
The minister has powers to dissolve the ECZ? Who provides the checks and balances if she has an interest? The ECZ is supposed to be an independent body!
The Minister has a point, these bodies like ECZ take time to assess applications hence possing as stambling blocks for development.
#3 are you the one in the picture????
why should it take 6 months to consider an application….. why cant the ECZ sit monthly or just make them part of the Planning Board so that once the Town Planning Board considers the development their ECZ fimo fimo will also be considered !!!!!! Just fire them and replace them with new faces. . . .change is good like the tourism guys . This Errol Hichey was fired and is so bitter now and has gone into partnership with the Post!!
Why cant the Manda Hill developers buy other land on market rates, rather than further deface and obscure history (burial site) by pandering to the idea that Zambia can be made to look like a glossy modernist country. The poor she talks of are kept outside the fences of these developments by security people so Ms Namugala can stand in front of these places and pretend for a moment that she has done something to alleviate poverty.
Is she the one in the pic! oh gosh she looks good . Thats why RB wants to be close to her! RB likes good things. Maybe chi mudala chalilwa obvious like ka FTJ used to do with then Regina Mwanza!
this is laughable.The ECZ has the mandate to check the enironmental impact of such development and do a cost benefit analysis of a project. They are allowed to take as long as they want. What the “good minister” should look at is those ridiculous fees that ZNTB charges for licences and how long we have to wait to get approval for operating a tourism business. It is much harder for a Zambian entrepreneur to set up a tourism venture than a foreign ” investor “(How i hate how this word is misused by these politicians!) . The ZNTB is not open to new ideas and THEIR process is the lengthy one. That is why some of us are forced to use our expertise in foreign countries where they are more welcoming and less red tape. The tourism act needs revision.
Imwe baMrs Namugala-Sichinga, you don’t know that everything in Zambia is premised on nichekeleko? Limbi naimwe mwalilyamo muli ba High Towers.
Namugala does not understand the role of ECZ but thinks its the other way round. How pathetic!
Thats Zambia for you…..pathetic.
Zambia the real Africa
All organisations in Zambia are politised. All these developments – “oh…new shiny mall” do nothing to the general development of the country considering that the Zambian workers are paid below minimum wage – if there is such a thing in Zambia and most, if not all, the goods sold are imported. The ECZ has more important issues to tackle than the expansion of Manda Hill… where was ECZ when Kabwe was being polluted? Where was ECZ when the rivers in chingola were being used as dumping repositories of mine waste? where was ECZ…ah forget it. People of Zambia have abdicated their rights to a group of pyschopaths called politicians. Complaining about politicians is like working in a brothel and screaming sexual harassment when your boss feels your bottom. Get out of the brothel,people!!
Hmmm? Is ECZ getting in the way of someone’s deal?
Goodmorning Zambia
Very good point from the minister. Economic progress can only be achieved if institutes like ECZ stay non-political and make a good contribution towards national development.
I wish the gvt can also be concerned about the construction and repair of roads in the country. I know they are waiting for next year to do the works so that they can gain political mileage during the election time.
If you have tried to set-up a business in Zambia you will feel the frustration. Madame Minister good stuff. I’ll put my frustration with your govt aside and objectively thank you for adressing this issue. You will win many friends if you continue with this issue based problem solving pro business approach. Zambia is one of the most frustrating business environments. You need licesing from every Authority/ministry to do any simple thing. I mean you get stuck in paperwork and plans and theories with all these agencies with nothing on the ground. The problem is all the corrupt employees want a kick-back if they are to sign anything in their in-tray. 6 motnhs for environmental clearance!!.
By the time you are done with all this paperwork, bureacracy & corrupt individuals in these Public Authorities, you will be half broke, lost some much time( maybe a year) would be pointless to proceed with business plans as Markets would have shifted, rendering original plan worthless, financiers will have withdrawn Credit lines, normally commited credit / financing lines are only open for drawdown for a period of up to 6mths from Sanction. Financing cost would have changed. In Business, Time is money, Time can affect the commercial viability of any Project / business plan. Alot happens between conception of an idea and execution. If we continue with all these Agencies, we will continue to lose. This affects not only foreign investors but us local entrepreneurs too. Kudos madame
People what you ought to understand is the fact that an EIA does not just take 1 month. There are alot to be considered. If approved in 1 month, you are the same people to complain of the unprofessionalism in the staff at ECZ. Understand the procedures before you complain Namugala. Its not kantemba being put up but a big project. I sit on a board here for consideration of projects and we have never had approval less than 10 months. There are other stakes involved before a project is approved. ECZ is really doing the best. Thumbs up Ba Zulu.
Sometimes, and in most cases, engineering projects take long to approve, depending on the nature of the project. A number of factors have to be considered, including impact on the surrounding areas. It takes time, the minister cant understand this because thats not her field. She studied catering. However, the ECZ could have added more delays, maybe because they were consulting other parties involved, like Lusaka city council and ministry of works and supply. They have to carefully study the project, because money will be invested in it. If they discover they had an overs sight, it will be costly and dangerous
#20. labelwriter. kanshi ikala ukokwine. You cannot compare environmental considerations in landless, pulluted Western countries to refreshing, natural wild Zambia. We are not dull. We know the difference in the length in process and varying factors between a simple Expansion of an existing building and a new Chemical plant or minign operation. You cannot tell me environmental consideration for the above mandahill project should take more than a month!!! Also I think you have not tried to do or construct anything serious in Zambia. because you don’t know how things are operating. Read carefully. Every person with signing power or with the stamp in their drawer want a cut before they sign. Dont give us theories but be closer to the issues, problem, solutions. I applaud Mugala for speakn…
#21 & 22 Get off Namugala’s back and respond to the real problem on the ground in Zambia for a change.. Manda Hill is NOT a Manufacturing plant. Right now there’s some good expansion work going on at Manda Hill. The proposed project consistets of real estate mainly.. environmental considerations would only cover human waste , traffic , noise, height etc… I’ll tell it like it is. Only would a lady come and speak out because they are less likely to be corrupt. All these chaps workign in Agencies even give you their charge for pushing documents for you!!! For tehm , they can tell you pay me K1.5m Ill get it processed for you.. This whats going on. Not the technical stuff you want to talk about. She’s a Nutritionist by profession so what?. What makes you think she doesn’t have the…
Intellectual Acumen to understand the basic principles. Im not an Engineer, but a Financial specialist.. So are you saying I wouldn’t understand project information if put before me?
We need more details on this article …who is High tower ? what is their background? How do they want to own? Are they Zambians? what tax system will be used on them? what calibre of jobs will the employ? Will their investment be profitable enough to be used in the Health , education, farming, infrastructure of Zambia. ALARM BELLS…..ECZ take your time to scrutinize any foreign investment to protect the Zambians without a voice. When Zambians open their eyes they will find all their tourist attractions owned by foreigners. The so called jobs they create provide peanuts to the Zambian revenue. The minister should give more details on this subject. Zambia should not be like Esau who sold his birthright for a bowl of soup in the bible.
#25 Mind typo error. I meant what is High tower ‘sback ground in tourism? Additionally, can some of the shares of this project be offered to Zambians. At least when the project thrive some Zambians can also benefit from it. Look at Victoria falls a God given beauty for Zambia….somehow the wealth of that tourist attraction does not trickle down to the Zambian people. Free market is good but check the small fine print when these deals are being made in the name of providing low paying jobs.
To some extent the Minister has a point. There is alot of feet dragging at ECZ when its come project evaluation and approval. One wonders whether these guys there seat on files or something like that. May be they are understaffed and this has been overlooked for some time now. Those concerned please look into staffing levels at ECZ. That institution has become very important.
typical ZANIS article, there aren’t any facts, like why it took so long, just that she thinks she has executive powers to personally dismiss ECZ, this government is so tiresome with their childish UNIP-style threats
Ba Minister, always listen to yourself before you vibrate. ECZ is not the only institution taking long to process applications. Do you know how long it takes a Zambian of right age to obtain a National Registration Card. This prolonged processing time in government run institutions e.g. ECZ is mostly has a result of your eternal absence in offices were you’re needed to approve documents, now that you are standing on a public platform in the presence of your prospective nchekelako you want to act efficient. Mule sangwa mu ma office yenu kano fye ukushumfwikile ulwendo ninshi eko muli.
Yaba # 29 Mulampapusha – you have made me laugh. Mwabapontela ba minister.
This is one interesting topic that we need to really think about ., The ECZ has a mandate to protect our enviroment and this mandate is derived from the Government. However when the Government observes that this institution is stalling development plans, it is obliged to react if it feels that such a decision is in the better interest of Country. That is what is required of a working Government. To put in further in perspective America and China and most other big economies are the worst culprits in the damaging of the enviroment. So why they are aiming at improving their economies , they have identified and discovered that such development is at a cost CONTINUED
It is ofcourse easy to sit back and condemn such a statement but we needd to undertsand that running a government is about juggling various needs., So govt needs to find a balance between enviromental damage and infrastructure devlopment. . And i must add that ECZ does not have the final word on projects but provide input into a final decision that considers various factors e.g. job creation, taxes and sometimes even foreighn aid sometimes. Now if Namugala has observed that ECZ is slowing down the implementation of projects then she is obliged to act on the problem and try and find a solution
Dissolve Interland Filling Station first. Anyway I agree with you. We want that place tidied up ka
Allow ECZ to do their work professionally.
Don’t make them a rubber stamp.
Remember that proper environmental assessment is for the benefit of us all.
Ka Namugala ni kambama maningi.. you are co cute mama…
Namugala runs JUST CHICKEN food outlet. For the past 4 years plus, all her outlets Chilenje BP, Kabwata, Cairo Rd Northend branches etc (between the two Zanaco branches) less than 500m from ZRA HQ she does not use proper retails tills for sales. This means she is NOT paying any tax for her retail sales. I’m regular customer and Im tired of complaining to ZRA. I hope someone can follow this up….!!!!!
It takes year here in the US for some plans to get approved not because it is political but for what is best for the community. I’m sure the same thing goes with ECZ. I’m sure they were considering what is best for the community. So this minster should stick her nose somewhere and not in ECZ business. So #4Tonga Bull it is not unusual for something to get approved in 6 months. Parliament should be the ones to disolve ECZ and not Minister.
I actually think that Minister should relinquish there postions in Parliament and concentrate on policy making in government if they want to be ministers. I really do not think that they can manage to do both jobs. For example Hon Kunda. How can you be VP & MOJ and MP for Muchinga Constitutency. you must be paying least attention to a postion.
Q:does ECZ fall under the ministry of Tourism?, Q: does the expansion of manda hill fall under the ministry of tourism or ministry of Local Govt? and finally in what capacity is Namugala going to dissolve the Board of the ECZ. i think the honorable minister should concentrate on promoting tourism in zambia, and i don’t c how the expansion of a shopping complex enhances tourism, maybe tourists from USA & England will come to Zambia to See the new Manda hill, i doubt it though.
Ummm, this investimenti mwandi! The application was submitted in April 2009 and the approval only given six moths later on 6th October. But the building works started long before that date of approval. So everything was illegal until 3 weeks ago? Just food for thought.
And a press briefing for that? If you undermine the integrity of the ECZ in this manner they will not be able to exercise professional judgment, and real and fake investors alike will have a field day in the name of “providing employment to the people”.
The article does not state what issues are on the agenda. In general environmental assessments are very important and crucial for projects. If this step is neglected health and safety risks can arise. However it is difficult to say from the report what has annoyed the hon minister.
Anyway thats what we are used to, just talking before we think and every one else is an expert inzambia. And cant differentiate between what is being said and then open our mouths. It is always like that. No respect for leadership. Then how can the Almighty God bless this mighty country so called zambia? This country will never stop amazing me. The Bible says, Respect your elders, parents and those in authority and am told zambia is a christian nation founded on Biblical ground, so thats what it means to be a christian nation? Forgive me if i have stepped on you! Anyway God bless u!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You see MaMa, you in GRZ have made too many fatal mistakes and crimes to the point that what ever you say looks stupid, sily and meaningless. It is really hard to believe you and what we see is just silliness in your face. This you must know! Look at Press RP Capital, who can believe his report?
You have completely wiped out all the trust people had in you. Just immagine what your end will be soon when you are booted out of power in 2011?? You will look like mad people
She will replace ECZ or the people on he ECZ council. Thank God the ECZ are holding their own. This smells of CORRRUPTION!!!!! Nothing else! The ECZ have to make their decisions and any feasibility or environmental studies are not done overnight. The silly woman has just shown she is part of the rotting fish. Remember the fish rots from the head.
mwebantu mwa tulekelesha. Bushe kansi ba ECZ bakacinja. Extention yakupwa umwaka? Kanshi mine yena ni 10years. Bushe niba ECZ nangula ni corruption. Banjelele bane nshaishibisha icisungu but ndacita understand ifyo mulelanshanya. Lesa amipale
Hopefull this namugala was speaking with blessings of expert advice otherwise if it was political advice we should expect cadres to be appointed on the ecz board. Now this will mean trouble for our already unplanned towns. From the little info i have is that the expansion of the mandahill project was contraversial from the word go. i remember the Lusaka city council halting the same project. What was behind that action? the minister is just saying they are delaying development she should infom us how long it takes to approve such projects. Development at the expense of the environmental considerations will noty help us at all. And why is it that we always believe in finding solutions thru the press. Why not sit down with the concerned parties and discuss maturely. Dont be political.
#29 How can you insult Ba Minister ati she has to listen before using a vibrator?
It does not look good when a politician threatens to use her muscle to this manner. Perhaps the council needs more resources to carry out their function. The Hon minister should be investigating the root cause of all these delays. What this council needs is support and not bullying.
Please let the professionals ECZ do their jobs right. These guys are there to make sure there aren’t any environmental degradations as a result of the proposed modifications. After all these guys were appointed by the MMD and most of their decisions lean towards the ruling party.
bUT WHAT needs to be understood is Govt has a development agenda, and complain of delays in govt processes / bureaucracy will hurt this agenda. . So i feell Namugala was responding to the issue of delays. So I agree with tECZ,z mandate but I also feel that they need to quicken up the pace
#51 Quicken up the pace for what? We need more details from Namugala about this transaction…..
# 29, Mulampapusha wansekesha sana. Ati kano ukotabomfwile ati kuli lwendo ninshi nabalepula. I agree let ECZ work within their professional requirement otherwise we have a disaster in the making if we rush them. Namwebene, muchinje no ku chinja. Everytime niku airport. Twanaka naimwe ba shetani
About time. The ECZ is stopping Zedians from developing the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls while the Zimbo’s are busy developing their side without any hindrance from their ECZ. As a result, when Zimbabwe wakes up, the tourists will stop coming to Zed and go back to Zimboland.
If it was not for the money she has to afford cometics, this woman would have been damn ugly……
NAMUGALA DOES NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND ENVIRONMENT ..THESE MINISTERS YOU FIND THAT SOMEONE WHO DID MEDICEN IS DOING AN ENGINEERING JOB IS A PROBLEM.. LET ECZ WORK ..DONT PUSH THEM.
Do u guyz know that zambia’s so called Honorable Namugala is a blackmailer. We have been recieving complains from various investors from other part of the world been harassed. For eg. If you guyz know a cement plant named Nasla Cement Ltd was been stopped in oct 09 till date for no reason. This company applied with ecz in 2007 for license. License was been granted after 7-8 months. After they bought plants and machinery. They were been stopped by Namugala from operating there. Just because she didnt got her cut. Our investigation teams would been sent to zambia for further investigations. As the whole world is looking at zambia for investment. And because corrupt bureaucrats like namugala can bring bad name for zambia. We would request zambians to update on [email protected]