The Patriotic Front Central Committee has directed that the noble way to honor the legacy of the Patriarch and PF founding President Michael Sata who died in 2014, on 28th October is for all leaders and members to promote unity of purpose by embracing discipline, reconciliation, forgiveness and promoting public service above self.

The directive was made during a Caucus Meeting held at State House with Patriotic Front Members of Parliament.

The meeting heard how on several occasions President Sata forgave and reconciled with individuals that had differed with him, including some who had previously physically attacked him.

The Central Committee received a report from the Local Government Committee on operationalisation of Statutory Instrument number 12 of 2018 which empowers Local Government in appointing markets and bus stations boards to run markets and bus stations.

After receiving the report, the Central Committee assured that it had noted concerns raised by marketeers and transport operators during their consultative meetings with the Ministry of Local Government.

The Central Committee further noted that the process which began in 2017 to look at the effective running of Markets and Bus Stations must be concluded.

It in this regard directed a taskforce comprising of the Ministry of Transport and Communication, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Local Government to present recommendations in the next 14 days aimed ensuring high standards of public health, orderly and lawful management of markets and bus stations.

In a statement issued by Party Secretary General Davies Mwila, the Central Committee commended Minister of Local Government Charles Banda for his Ministry’s continued efforts to improve service delivery at local level.

Eastern Province Minister Hon Makebi Zulu accused United Party Of National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema of benefiting about US$ 14 million from the sale of Lower Zambezi National Park.

Speaking at a PF interactive forum on Sunday in Lusaka, Hon Zulu said HH has been quiet on the happening at Lower Zambezi because he is the one who sold it and kept the money in the offshore accounts in the Bahamas.

He challenged the UPND to come out in the open and tell the Zambians the role HH played in the privatization of Lower Zambezi and how much he benefited.

Hon Zulu said Mr Hichilema was exposed by the Paradise Paper to have been a Director of a Bermuda company known as AfNat Resources Limited which bought mining licenses at Zambezi Resource Limited.

He expained that Mr Hichilema’s AfNat Resources was incorporated in 2005 and explored for nickel and other metals in Zambia and other African countries.

And Hon Zulu says it is sad that corruption fight has been politicized by certain people.

He noted with sadness that some disgruntled political players had the guts of politicizing the issue of the mysterious 48 houses by accusing innocent Senior government officials when they have nothing to do with those houses.

He has called on Zambians not to downplay the fight against corruption by not following the right channels in reporting corrupt acts to the appropriate institutions mandated to tackle the vice.

Hon Zulu, who is also PF Deputy Chairman for Legal Affairs, said while corruption existed in all walks of life, it is slowly losing its meaning on account of several stakeholders accusing government leaders of perpetrating the vice without proof.

The Minister further said government does not interfere with the operation of Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) hence it allowed the commission to do its work on the mysterious 48 houses.

Green Party President Peter Sinkamba says no mining will take place in the Lower Zambezi National Park regardless the High Court decision on account that the environmental impact assessment authorization granted by Harry Kalaba in January 2014 is no longer legally valid and therefore cannot be used as the basis to commence mining in the park.

Reacting to last week decision by Lusaka High Court to throw out a petition by concerned citizens, the Green Party leader says all environmental impact assessment authorizations have a time limit in which operations should commence from date of grant of such permission. He says that failure to commence operations within three years renders the authorization invalid on grounds of lapse of time.

“We in the environmental sector respect time. In this case, authorization was granted by Honorable Harry Kalaba in January 2014. This is October 2019 which is more than 5 years from the time the authorization was granted.

“Now, Regulation 30 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 28 of 1997 provides that if, following the preparation of a project brief or environmental impact assessment, an authorization licence, permit or permission has been issued but no land preparation or construction work has started within 3 years, then the developer must re-register with the authorizing agency any intention to develop. The 3 year statutory period lapsed for Zambezi Resources in January 2017,” Mr. Sinkamba said.

“So, by virtue of Regulation 30, Zambezi Resources, or whatever name the company is now called, should go back to the Director of Mines Safety at the Ministry of Mines to re-submit its intention to mine in Lower Zambezi National Park. This application must be accompanied with a current environmental impact assessment report for review by the Mines Safety Department. Thereafter, the resubmitted EIA report will once again be forward to the Zambia Environmental Management Authority for further review and decision.

“If both Mines Safety Department and Zambia Environmental approve the re-submitted environmental impact assessment report, only then can mining commence. If either or both authorities reject the report, then no mining will take place. So this is the first level of checkmate. Also, both MSD and ZEMA have a second chance to redeem themselves as credible institutions worth entrusting to responsibly manage the national heritage,” Mr. Sinkamba added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sinkamba has said that the Green Party will petition the Constitutional Court on the constitutionality of mining in ecologically sensitive areas such as the Lower Zambezi National Park.

“Whilst Zambezi Resources will be busy resubmitting its environmental impact assessment reports to MSD and ZEMA in line with Regulation 30 of SI 28 of 1997, we the Greens will also petition the constitutionality of mining in ecologically sensitive areas such as the Lower Zambezi National Park.

“Article 255 of the Constitution of Zambia Amendment 2016 provides principles of environmental and natural resources management and development. In particular, sub-Article 255(d) imposes a duty on all of us to ensure that the conservation and protection of ecologically sensitive areas, habitats, species and other environment shall be done in a sustainable manner.

“As the Greens, we do not think that mining in Lower Zambezi National Park, which an ecologically sensitive area which hosts sensitive habitats, species and other environmental resources. We think that there is a better way to manage such areas other than through mining. So we want the Constitutional Court to pronounce itself on this grave matter before mining commences. In short, we will obtain an injunction to restrain mining in game parks, including Lower Zambezi National Park until the Constitutional Court decides our petition. This is the Green Party checkmate on the matter. We are in Concourt as early as next week,” Mr. Sinkamba added.

Today’s Scripture

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”

(2 Corinthians 1:20, NKJV)

Yes and Amen

Have you thought about the fact that God has already said “yes” to His promises in your life? You don’t have to beg God to be good to you. You don’t have to plead with Him to help you. God wants to help you. He wants to pour out His abundant blessing on your life. The Scripture says His promises are “yes and amen.” “Amen” means “so be it.”

In other words, it’s a done deal. All you have to do is make sure you are living up to your end of the bargain. God’s love is unconditional, but we have to obey His commands in order to see His promises come to pass.

For example, Malachi 3:10 says that we have to bring our tithe to Him in order to see the windows of heaven open. It says in Deuteronomy 5 that we are to honor our parents in order to live a long life. The good news is that when we surrender our hearts to Him, He empowers us to fulfill every one of His commands. He equips us for every good work because He wants to see us live a blessed life. That’s why His promises are “yes and amen”!

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. I believe that You have a good plan to pour out Your blessing and favor on me. Give me strength to obey Your commands and honor You all the days of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

The World Wide Fund for Nature Zambia has urged government to cancel the mining license issued to the investors in the Lower Zambezi National Park.

WWF Zambia Country Director Nachilala Nkombo said in a statement that government should halt any attempts by the developer to move onsite in Lower Zambezi National Park.

Ms. Nkombo said government should also constitute a task force that will revisit key findings of the independent evaluation report on Kangaluwi mine.

Ms. Nkombo said WWF Zambia is deeply disappointed by the High Court ruling that allows Zambezi Resources Limited to proceed with establishment of an open pit mining operation at the proposed Kangaluwi site in the Lower Zambezi National Park.

She said the Zambian Government must take immediate action to safeguard Lower Zambezi National Park, a key natural asset.

She said the Lower Zambezi National Park is one of four national parks that generate up to 96% of Zambia’s non-consumptive wildlife tourism revenues.

“Although the mine is expected to cover about 980 km2, which is about 25% of the park, it is estimated that more than 50% of the national park will be lost (the entire northern part of the park).”

“This means that the primary reasons for which the park was initially established will be lost forever.”

“The Lower Zambezi National Park was established in 1983 to Conserve biodiversity, including iconic and rare wildlife, forest, and fresh water species, that also ensure ecosystem function.”

She added, “The Park was also created to protect the Rufunsa, Chakwenga and Chongwe River watersheds and conserve ecosystem services that also serve as a buffer to climate change impacts and provide for scientific knowledge advancement, public education, and tourism development.”

“WWF Zambia is therefore gravely concerned about the far-reaching economic, social, and environmental consequences that an open cast mine will have on the Lower Zambezi ecosystem.”

Ms Nkombo says the action by the High Court negates Zambia’s progress as a country on SDG Goal 15 which aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

She said proceeding with the proposed course of action in Lower Zambezi will rob current and future generations of Zambians of their rich natural resource heritage.

“WWF Zambia therefore cautions that awarding this mining license in an ecologically sensitive national park such as Lower Zambezi may set a dangerous precedent for large-scale investments in high biodiversity areas,” he said.

“National parks contribute to sustenance of Zambia’s ecological processes, provision of ecosystem services, tourism economy, and cultural values, and there is risk they will increasingly be targeted for conflicting uses that erode the unique values that make them key natural capital assets; thereby disregarding the natural inheritance of the Zambian people.”

She said WWF Zambia is not in support of this High Court judgement and observes that the appeal dismissal is based on a technicality, rather than a hearing of the substantive case.

“WWF Zambia is committed to engage in dialogue and processes that explore lawful and legitimate avenues to withdraw the Kangaluwi mining license,” Ms Nkombo said.

“In this regard, WWF Zambia lauds civil society efforts to ensure this matter is heard before the Supreme Court; including presentation of key risks associated with the proposed mine.”