Press Statement from ActionAid Zambia
“The concerns raised by Zambia Environmental Management Agency as part of its rejection of the Environmental Impact Statement including the proximity to Mana Pools World Heritage Site, the issue of acid rock drainage and the reduction in tourism in the national park are legitimate and cannot be mitigated as outlined by Zambezi Resources in their proposed management scheme.
It is impossible to see how wildlife conservation will be enhanced by the presence of an open pit mine and the proposed jobs are unlikely to benefit the local people, who will also be affected by the pollution from the mine.
The communities who live in and around the park are highly dependent on agriculture and will no longer be able to grow their own food to feed their families as the area becomes urbanised – slums will start mushrooming to house migrant workers.
This is the first time that a mining licence has been granted for the purpose of large scale open pit mining in a national park in Zambia and sets a dangerous precedent for the opening up of protected spaces.
We are extremely disappointed that the minister has overridden the earlier decision by ZEMA not to approve the licence. As there are copper and other minerals everywhere in Zambia we are extremely concerned that if project goes ahead, mining will inevitably become a regrettable feature of all our national parks.”
by Pamela Chisanga:
ActionAid Zambia Country Director
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Why are you the first one to comment on a subject you consider not being news worthy?
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Thankyou action aid for speaking out. I wonder why proffesional organisations like ZAWA and the Veterinary association are quiet on this matter. Why are they not offering guidance on this important matter. If wildlife is too be appreciated in Zambia, awareness and love for animals should start with people who are trained to care for these animals. Veterinarians are trained to care and enfore welfare of animals and they are all quiet. UNZA offers so many courses eg Ecology, Natural resources….where are these people working in Zambia for them to be so quiet? The toursim ministry with their minister Miss Masebo a big shame to them after hosting the UNWTO fimofimo…..just last dec. Ba Masebo, show us what you are made of with this challenge, not bwatu, bwatu, bwatu……..politics chabe.
ba Mambala, where have you been? Government institutions no longer embrace the law, Permanent Secretaries are political appointees and not civil service heads, the Wildlife Act of 1970 removed the powers of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and transferred it to the Minister, much of the legislation serving nature and rural people – like the Natural Resources Act of 1962 – was trashed by Kaunda, he who now drinks tea in Sata’soffice – hence Indeco, another disaster. Vuga iwe!
When PF cadres see a wild animal, all they see is Umunani!
They have not come to terms with the beauty nature has to offer, hence the reason why they want to antagonize professional ZEMA opinion!
Good to know an injunction is currently in place but I also want to know who authorized mineral explorations in a game reserve to start with so that we learn how much in kick backs they earned!
Zambia’s downfall is putting all power in an individual!
The whole country is made to pay for the sins of one f00l!
We need brutal force to shake this stupidity!
@I.PA manning, thanks for that educative comment. I have learnt something. That explains the situation we are in, its the laws that we need to change. ..
” This is the first time that a mining licence has been granted for the purpose of large scale open pit mining in a national park in Zambia and sets a dangerous precedent for the opening up of protected spaces. ”
However it also sends a loud and clear message about what these ‘national parks’, ‘game reserves’ and the like are all about.
How many more mining deposits are hidden away in parks that are supposed to be off limits to people?
This is how the likes of De Beers kept diamond deposits out of circulation, just so they could keep the price of diamonds high.
An interesting point. In post 1924 days, protected areas were all given over to game reserve or national parks status (Kafue) with the agreement of the customary authorities, from their trust land, with the agreement of the Governor (until 1964), provided villagers benefited from their exploitation. Mining has always been kept out of the food box, but as the PF knows, I recommended that we adopt a similar scheme to the Alaska Permanent Fund where villagers would receive dividends from mining income. The problem is all about the centralisation of power, supported by a formidable array of security legislation. Look at the six who were arrested at Pamodzi when Guy Scott was having a chat with the chap from Western Austraiia. He had a plan did he not. What did you say?
what is wrong with Zambians? Animals can be transfered to a safer place. the mine will benefit more zambians than those animals which can be taken to another area
Kayula stop thinking with your an.us and use your head, the one on top of your neck, not the one eyed monster.
As we increasingly see and hear, Zambians are not to be taken for granted.
good observation, action aid, what ar some of the advanteges of that mine? critically look at both adv and disadv of that mine. don’t jst look at negatives always.
Instead of trying to arrest development we should be fighting to get a fair share from our God given natural resource. The Zambian people who claim to be educated should be coming up with ways to mitigate environmental degradation caused by industrial development. Our European friends solve more challenging problems like reclaiming land from the sea or offshore mining of natural gas in deep and unforgiving rough sees.
Ukulyamo Syndrome as usual!
Such Selfish thinking is what blinds many from appreciating the fact that Tourism is a long-term Asset compared to mining! Moreover, this Mwembeshi resources is hundred percent foreign owned, meaning all they will leave Zambia with will be left-overs in form of taxes and loyalties, not enough to bring the much talked about development.
ZCCM and KK created a bigger problem which will forever haunt this country.
Only brutal force will work for Zambia!!
Dim wit, I can also accuse you that you have been oiled by the lodge owners or the opposition to frustrate government efforts but this will not take us any where as a country. That is if you are a Zambian! I will not comment further on this issue as a law abiding citizen.
Let’s put pressure on the gov’t in fact these selfsame investors are the same cartel who have investments on the copper belt. The show no regard for health of people and the environment on the CB, what makes our gov’t think they will care about the ecosystem in lower Zambezi…we should be diversifying from mining to other sectors. Lower Zambezi today tomorrow it will be Luangwa….lets not allow this corruption and plunder by a select greedy few.
The word on the street is that the Lusaka High Court has granted the Lusaka-based Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) an injunction halting mining prospects in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
Castigate and castrate this morbid minister. Which school of economics is he a graduate of? Mining in Africa is a source of great wealth for the already rich in the developed world, and a source of untold misery and degradation for Africa’s environment and the poor. The opportunity cost of mining to Zambia is too high.
Not only are these big multinational corporations exploiting our resources for pennies, but they also pollute and destroy our natural ecosystems with impunity. Have they not done enough damage already? Does anyone know where they are taking our copper which they have been mining for hundreds of years? Anglo-America left us poorer and so will these new comers, after they have taken all our minerals away and destroyed our environment.
Below is a speech by the “hardworking” Minister of Tourism Hon. Sylvia T. Masebo MP speaking in March 2013:
“Zambia is heavily-dependent on mining and agriculture. The Government has targeted tourism as an important sector for diversification from mining and agriculture. It is an emerging sector for job creation and wealth creation. We are therefore looking at (creating) SMEs that can generate employment for the urban poor, women and the youth. We are looking at tourism as an engine for employment generation.”
How can one even sleep at night….these leaders have no shame at all.
I FOR ONE WILL NOT KEEP QUIET TO THIS ENVIRONMENTAL RAPE / SABOTAGE OF OUR ECO SYSTEM, & ENVIRONMENT!!!
These (Judas Iscariot DEVIL) – Zambian Politicians, who are allowing these Economic Terrorists to Rape our land for 30 pieces of Silver, should realize, the same infestors would NOT do this in their own Countries, as they are fully aware of the implications on human health & life.
Black lives are seen as cheap & dispensable, & these P.F Mercenaries are willing to aid the indirect maiming & killing of Zambians, for an offshore Dollar account.
FOR EVIL TO EXIST, ALL GOOD PEOPLE NEED TO DO IS KEEP QUIET, UPON NOTICING INJUSTICE, & I ain’t keeping Shtum! At least when this EVIL DEED is done & what we predicted comes to pass, ( like Chanda Chimba warned us), I can rest easy.
I FOR ONE WON’T BE KEEPING QUIET WHILE OUR ECO SYSTEM & ENVIRONMENT IS RAPED & DESTROYED, FOR FOREIGN PROFIT!
We all know, these Judas Iscariot – Devil Zambian P.F Ministers, don’t care for our environment / eco system or implications mining will have on Citizens health.
All they worry about is their Dollar offshore accounts.
These foreign INFESTORS would NEVER dream of doing similar in their own counties, as they’re fully aware of the health & Eco implications, on their “Beloved Citizens”
Lets not forget Black lives are cheap & dispensable in their eyes, so with Corrupt GREEDY Zambians assisting, they know its Eldorado @ our expense.
FOR EVIL TO PREVAIL, ALL GOOD PEOPLE NEED TO DO IS KEEP QUIET ON NOTICING INJUSTICE!
If this goes ahead it will end in tearful prophecy.
Simple-minded emotional mirroring comments by ActionAid won’t negate the original reasons given for approving the mine, regardless of what those reasons are. Nobody lives or farms there on the escarpment, and the number of jobs (500) will not attract “migrant workers” or create a Copperbelt (although Copperbelt miners are viciously envied throughout Zambia because they have reasonable pay, unlike most of the population). There are plenty of unemployed in Chinyunyu, Rufunsa and Luangwa already, currently working as poachers due to lack of alternatives. Why don’t people look at facts or for example do something fact-based like provide a hyperlink to a place where those people who can read might look at the EIS and judge for themselves?
It does seem suspicious though that the deposit in only 0.3% – given the location one would question whether this would really be cost-effective to extract
Or maybe there is something else down there!!
Guy Scot’s friends don’t care about the environment.These guys have caused a global uproar due to the fact that one coal mine wants to dumb some rubbish in the ocean in order for them to expand their operations.This action is bound to affect one of the coral reefs in the area?I mean if these guys don’t give a damn about marine life.How in the world do you expect them to care about our wild life?Shame on you Scot and your counterparts?