Tourism and Arts Minister Ronald Chitotela says he will engage his counterpart at the Ministry of Mines Richard Musukwa over the impasse surrounding the Lower Zambezi mining license.
Mr Chitotela said he will also be engaging his colleagues at the Ministries responsible for Water Affairs and Environment as well as Ministry of Justice over the issue.
He said although the Zambia Wildlife Act under section 16 permits any person to exercise with a license, their rights under certain terms and conditions as prescribed by the Minister, this has to be done in consultation with all major stakeholders.
Mr Chitotela said an amicable solution must obviously be found which must look at the effects this will have on tourism in the Lower Zambezi valley and the interests of the local people and the nation at large.
He was speaking during a preliminary engagement meeting with the stakeholders opposed to the decision by Lusaka High Court to throw out a petition by concerned citizens.
Mr Chitotela said the Zambia Wildlife Act No 14 of 2015 gives specific instructions to the Minister of Tourism to make sure that before mining activities take place in a national park, the Minister has to give certain operational conditions to be met by the mining operator.
He appealed to the appellant to take judicial notice and appeal to the court considering that there are various interest groups of the matter.
Mr Chitotela said the court might reconsider its decision and considering that the State has every confidence in the judicial system hence there is no need to ridicule the court.
And Zambia Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) Forum National Coordinator Noah Chongo said the Civil Society respects the Rule of Law and cherishes the dialogue has had with Government.
Mr. Chongo said his organization is requesting the Minister to hear the public outcry based on real issues and the challenges that will be caused by the Mining projected if undertaken.
He said Minister has powers vested in him to talk to other Minister and push for the revocation of the Mining license so that National parks can accrue it’s maxing benefits.
The Conservationist said other stakeholders like chiefs and communities have cried out and need to be head if need the Minister should escalate to matter to the Republican President.
And a representative of IMPI, a Non-Government Organization working with communities in the Lower Zambezi, Stephen Mulembeta said villagers in the area are likely to experience the worst cases of Human-Animal Conflicts due to the animals that will be pushed the mining activities.
When you put a Banana and a K100 note before a Monkey, you know that a Monkey will get a Banana instead of the K100 note that is able to buy the Monkey more Bananas! This is how we are behaving towards the Lower Zambezi Issue! Surely, Tourism is long term and is able to earn this country more FOREX than the short-term mining activity which will only kill Our fledgling Tourism industry as most Tourists will boycott Zambia in protest for the careless decision to allow the destruction of one of the few remaining natural beauties to behold! Our Legal process also must help the nation make correct decisions! One wonders why cases in Zambia are always thrown out. Does it mean our Lawyers don’t understand the Legal processes? Let Wisdom (Not Intellect) prevail on this matter!
I have seen Rwanda advertising with a premier league club, I have heard South Africa advertising its tourism on Zambia’s radio. Why are we failing to sell our tourism in major economies? A mine is a wasting asset and will just leave holes in the ground. Please stop this.
Ba Chitotela,thanks for this consultative approach.After all this,please take the matter to Cabinet and push for it to be quashed and further seek amendments to Act to require Parliamentary and Local community approval for any mining to take place in National Parks or indeed any protected areas like Forest Reserves. In fact degazetting of forests should now require approval from local communities and possibly parliament as the current abuse has taught us not to trust the Executive!!
Now there is a surprise.
Anyone that acts in the best interest of our country deserves support.
This is your one chance Chitotela to be seen to be doing something good.
Prove to us that you are “robin hood” -ish, not just a “robbing hood”.
He has sniffed out a chance for an easy big kickback whilst acting as concerned middleman. The weak President can put an end to all this with one signature.
Mr Corruption Kitotela himself wading into this nonsense.
Kitotela just wants a bit of the Kickback, before he decides what we already know, “Mines Go ahead, but ensure my cash is safely tucked away in an offshore account, or else I will sabotage, & this mining won’t go ahead”
BA CHANGA FULL RUNNING AFFAIRS OF THE NATION!
These are guys who even think what they have stolen will sustain them forever after they have lost the privilege to rule (yea, these ain’t leaders guys – they’re rulers). Each time they see confusion they go for the pocket of the victim! Cabulanda sana bane.
All government institutions are corrupt, That’s how PF Bandits have destroyed Zambia.. Please before selling it can I Buy all the snakes for My Bandits in PF. Christian nation leaders eating snakes.. Zambia is finished bye bye bye..
He wants to engage or see how much is on the take, this chap is the most corrupt of them all followed by scatter teeth, the worst president on earth… the thieving lawyer wanna be who stole from a widow
Nothing will come out of that engagement.
Yes nothing will come out…they have already pocketed the money.
They looted and are destroying the reserve forests , they are looting animals ,
Now the game parks , which are the last things to sell……..
Only a threat of a total tourist boycott will stop lungu and his gang, nothing more….
If you are an honest person would you trust this man?
Namwishiba guys!? These guys are relocating game from designated areas so they can put up mines. So wildlife baba ndipo nso na ma copper yamene ayo wazagawana wazaba! Don’t say I didn’t tell you.
Corruption has brought a curse to this nation. All leaders do not exude traits of leadership in the fight against corruption. No wonder the nation, is facing a lot of challenges and yet we have plenty resources. Hospitals have no drugs.Children are dying because of malnutrition.Our youths have no employment. A knacker of a politician has pocketed a lot of money dubiously. The wrath of God is on this nation unless this corruption is eradicated. It has sent a lot of innocent souls to their early graves. The souls are crying to God for vengeance. Honestly, how do we allow this ugly face of corruption to be a norm in our nation? Everything that a person wants to do he has to bribe his way through. It is a disgrace of a nation.
Well done sir. The nation and posterity is watching. The park is not just about tourism but an ecosystem that if disturbed may have far reaching consequences. Obvious mwamvela kwavapyela even if you are in an air conditioned office and ride. Kwatenta pano panja pilizi!!!!
lets stop this nonsense from PF, NO mining in the park
Shut this saga down PF.
It’s a no brainer, environment issues are everyones concern worldwide. Stop being the Party of the imponderable! This is ridiculous.
Ba chitotela please do something.If you gonna deliver on this one then you gonna win hearts of Zambians.we know you perform therefore we have trust in you.Bakalamba show them leadership.This is the great opportunity for you to recover from those allegations.
What should we do to this government?
Nothing membwa shaku Zambia
m******
Zambians ni mbwa fact
Mwaba amotole bafikala. Ba Kolwe