GOVERNMENT has called on the Zambia Environmental Management Authority (ZEMA) to lift the ban on mining activities slapped on Dangote Industries Zambia Limited.
In January this year, ZEMA banned the company from carrying out mining activities because they had diverted water from the local stream in Masaiti District for their works without permission.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Miles Sampa said the ban on mining activities slapped on Dangote was delaying the development of the plant which is situated in Masaiti.
He said it was better for ZEMA to stop the company from getting water from the stream than banning all mining activities.
Mr Sampa said such acts were frustrating the investor who had already put in a lot of money in the cement production plant.
“ZEMA should not stop progress were an investor has put in a lot of money. In this case, it is the same ZEMA that approved the project in 2011 and we should not see any reason why the company should be banned from carrying out activities this year,” he said.
He said this yesterday during a tour at the plant.
Mr Sampa said the investor had put in more than $400, 000 million in the plant and that the project would create more than 1,000 jobs for the local people once commissioned in July this year.
Chief Chiwala of the Lamba speaking people in Masaiti alleged that ZEMA was contributing to the delay in the development of the plant.
He appealed ZEMA to look at the terms of reference of the company than acting on pressure the institution was getting from individuals who did not want to see development in the area.
ZEMA director Joseph Sakala who was present at the tour declined to comment when asked by the Press to do so.
Meanwhile, Dangote group board director Monica Musonda said that 92 per cent of the works at the plant were done and that it would be ready for commissioning in July this year.
Dangote is a real investor and businessman not our self proclaimed millionaire with kraals full of sick cattle
Everything you have to politicise. Leave the man alone (I know who you meant).
While I can agree with you on Aliko Dangote investing in cement production in Zambia. Aliko Dangote the Nigerian and Africa’s richest man.
ZEMA should be careful also not to derail investment in the country, especially manufacturing industries as this is what the country needs more than excessive borrowing by the government.
Who cares. This guy has as much credibility as the women he is been sleeping with
Thanks
You will die poor because of your hate and jealous.
Cadre mentality is the biggest cancer to development in our country! !
I warned you upnd cadres that if you continue pouring scorn, we will also hit hard at your chairman of illede association.
Diverting a river deprives the area where the water flows. Why not make a mean dam to partly divert and store water for use than diverting the entire river? Its so clear and the investor should have taken that into consideration. Let the investor use the water from the river but he should not divert the entire river. Diverting a river can have dire consequences on other people, animals, plants, insects, birds micro organisms and the land itself. You investor do not be that selfish, share that river, you just found it there.
Like this, how do expect kwacha to be stable when govt institutions can’t speak with one voice
Yaba kwati this is how things are: http://zambiareports.com/2014/03/31/satire-peep-satas-cabinet-meeting-march-2014/
ZEMA must really be in problems with politicians who are quick to side with investors against the common good of the country. Could corruption be at play here?
The boy from matero has been given something! In what capacity is he talking about the lifting of the ban! He neither works for the mines or the environment! That is the problem with corruption, it totally blinds you to the harsh realities that will soon manifest itself in the environment and health of people. ZEMA is on firm ground.
If I were Dangote I would pullout and let this Godforsaken nation suffer. Take your money Dangote because we don’t like it. We are Zambia the real Africa and our brains have been fried by the sun to char. Rivers can be diverted as seen in all major cities like London, Amsterdam, Stockholm New York and many other beautiful cities. Canals are then erected to be used for transport and reservoirs. Most of you bloggers are not even familiar with this area – The river/stream in question is the one that flows all the way into Kafubu river. Kafubu river is the troubled river that has been suffocated by a serious algae that has stricken and and reduced the size of the river almost to extinction. The likes of Chinyama just have personal vendetta against Tonga speaking people their tribal kaz.
And you think Dangote is doing you a favour. ..this is purely good business there is a massive market for him in Zambia plus her central strategic location makes it possible for him to export to cement thirsty emerging markets like DRC, Uganda, Kenya, Angola etc
Instead of curtailing the activities that a black run company has embarked on, we should setup a cobra committee to meet up and allow the company to progress with their works. Get ZEMA onboard and allow them to participate in the discussion rather than having people slinging mud at each other. Do no have the press lead on these important issues. $400m bucks is a lot of money to invest. Viva Ndola town – viva Zima-Ndola.
You are either commenting on impulse or do not understand the matter at all. When a river flows, it benefits hundreds of families and their livestock and wild animals and birds along the way. It is against environmental rules of natural justice to deprive all these beings of their right to water. Dangote is the one that should find other ways of sourcing water the company needs and can easily sink boreholes or transport it from somewhere to the plant. ZEMA is doing its work correctly. What happened to Dangote’s business plan which should have examined the different options long before the project was started seeing as water is a critical ingredient in its works? Come on please!!!
@Jay Jay, yes he is doing us a favour. Do you really know the terrain we are talking about here? I born and bred in the area. The Chilanga area used to be a haven. We used to go on boat trips and fishing expeditions as young people growing up in Zima Ndola. That lake was well maintained when our european friends were utilising it and they kept the algae under control. They used to import a special micro-organism found in Israel that eats up this this algae that has suffocated the flow of this river. Dag hammaskajoeod (sp) was built around this same river but the river dried up and is now dead in that area. Work with Dangote and he will do wonders in the area. We are not the only country with lime deposits in the area remember that. That belt stretches into the Congo and Angola.
@Bob, yes, on positive impulse. I know the area very well. What happened to the Kafubu river – I am sure you asking yourself Kafubu who? Dangote is tapping into the stream not diverting it. That way, the company will ensure that the stream is flawless and flowing to the beneficial of all those opposing. We have too much red tape in this underdeveloped country. Too many cooks just spoil the soup all the time. We all know that the benefits of setting up this company will benefit a lot of families in the area than the non-starter reasons you quoting here. Know the subject matter guys before you shoot from the hip.
@Bob, lol, lol, lol. Where do I start from? Sink a borehole to run a $400m+ cement industry – not factory! You are joking ain’t you. You even suggest to have the water transported in trucks – mama Mia, I will smoke some of that geezer.
SAMPA IS RIGHT! ZEMA SHOULD HAVE RESTRICTED DANGOTE CEMENT PLANT FROM GETTING WATER FROM THE RIVER THAN BURNING THEM FROM ALL MINING ACTIVITIES.
Have asked yourself why Dangote still went on with their project….water is a far precious resource than gold and copper.Remember that ZEMA puts our interests first and its fighting your corner…not some corrupt politican championing job creation some he can be reelected.
Don’t listen to utterly ignorant politicians like Sampa if he had any sence he would stay well clear of this and not run to the press. This is the selfsame reason we are being robbed by “infestor” as we have imbeciles like Sampa and Kalaba in positions of authority.
Wake up!!
PF has really turned Zambia into uncivilized country.
No regard for laws, any PF chap can just wake and issue a directive.
Spot on…that’s kaponyas for you!
PF has really turned Zambia into uncivilized country.
No regard for laws, any PF chap can just wake up and issue a directive.
Another PF idio.t who has been bribed jumps in the ring..to put the interests of his belly before the environment.
If Dangote built a $400m without following procedure so be it….lets follow procedure this is the selfsame reason why we swamped by street vendors as we let that one individual set up shop in Lumumba Rd and turned a blind eye.
If that be the case ZEMA must not be making final decisions.
These people at ZEMA need to sent for retraining!
They are the Zambia National ENVIRONMENT Agency, yet they are basing most of their decisions on economic, social and political factors! All things they know nothing about!
Someone should draw them a roadmap and make sure the stick to ENVIRONMENTAL issues.
Or maybe they are just waiting for “some money in the pocket” !!!!!!
We Need to understand and probably define development.In the “developing” world,development means catching up with the “first”world.Actually if you critically analyse you will realise that the “undeveloped ” world can set pace in this era and for environmental care and protection. have an originl concept the world can copy and that is only hidden in our undisturbed natural resources.Environmental awareness even among leaders as reflected in current decisions made is far lacking in our resource rich Nation.No wonder Africa is becoming a big Dumping place for glitering,poisons that are not Gold.
what exactly do you mean – I am lost in translation
Really, 400 thousand million dollars?
What is that….four hundred trillion dollars? My goodness – that’s an even bigger number than Bob Sichinga dreamed up! And Bob was even “thinking” in old Kwacha terms.
In Zambia we like getting ahead of ourselves, that’s is why we have started by having too many unnecessary regulating authorities gobbling a lot of money for nothing. They are just supposed to departments under relevant ministries. That’s why we have ZEMA, ERB, Zambezi river authority and so on when we have very few companies to regulate. Its like a football stadium full of referees and coaches and only one player dribbling himself.
MILES SAMPA HOW IS ZAMBIA WATCH DOG
I give this comment 100 votes!
Yes, tell us Miles. How is your “war” with the ZWD going?
And how much of our TAXPAYERS MONEY have you wasted trying to hide your misdemeanours away?
RB AT WORK
The Zambian government has signed the Investment Promotion and Protection agreement with Dangote Industries limited of Nigeria for the establishment of a 400 million United States dollars cement processing plant in Ndola’s Masaiti area on the Copper belt.
A feasibility study has already been completed for the setting up of the cement manufacturing plant with an initial capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per annum and works at the site will commence by next year February.
Speaking during the signing ceremony of the agreement, minister of commerce, trade and industry, Felix Mutati said Nigeria’s investment in Zambia is for the benefit of Zambians.
Mr. Mutati has welcomed Dangote into Zambia noting that the company would create more decent