Investigations conducted by the Environment Council of Zambia (ECZ) has revealed that Lumwana East river in Solwezi was not polluted by uranium discharged by Lumwana mine as alleged by media reports.

ECZ Public Relations Officer Bwalya Nondo disclosed that ECZ have also dispelled reports of crops and other plants being burnt by alleged uranium contaminants .

He explained that a comprehensive report submitted to Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Catherine Namugala today on the reported pollution incident by Lumwana mine has revealed that there was no trace of pollution.

In a press release made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Nondo said analysis carried out on water in the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) and on water released into the environment revealed no trace of pollution and that discharged water was within statutory limits.

“The report further reveals that samples collected from boreholes, the main source of domestic water in the community down stream of Lumwana East, did not show any raised levels of radiation in the water. River water is mostly used for crop irrigation in the dry season, and as such, no crops or any other plant were burnt or affected by any uranium discharge as reported in the press”, he said.

The Public Relations Officer disclosed that Lumwana mine has not commenced any uranium production and that, the copper extraction process does not employ a method used that requires use of sulphuric acid which could be harmful to plants in the event of pollution to the environment.

Mr. Nondo further explained that the local community was informed that Lumwana mine would be discharging water into the river and advised them not to drink it because it was dirty and muddy.

He said the Tourism Minister has since commended ECZ for promptly investigating the pollution incident in Solwezi.

Mr. Nondo said Ms Namugala has since assured the nation that her ministry through ECZ will closely monitor Lumwana mine and other industries to ensure that their operations were environmentally friendly, and not a danger to human life and the environment.

ZANIS/PM/MKM/ENDS

following indication that China will this year increase its
annual copper purchase from 600,000 to one million
tonnes, Finance and National Planning Minister,
Situmbeko Musokotwane has said.

Dr Musokotwane said in Lusaka yesterday that if implemented, China’s move would result in a deficit in the global copper requirement for 2009 and trigger higher prices.

The minister said this in a speech read for him by Secretary to the Treasury, Likolo Ndalamei during the second Corporate Governance award-giving ceremony held at Hotel Intercontinental.

Dr Musokotwane said despite having put in place various measures to support economic diversification, the Zambian Government would not abandon what it knew best: mining.

“This is the reason why we are optimistic with reports that China’s State Reserve Bureau may this year raise purchases of copper to one million metric tonnes from 600,000 tonnes.

“Such a measure, if implemented, ‘would easily turn the projected global surplus of between 350,000 tonnes and 400,000 tonnes this year’ into a deficit. This is an encouraging signal for the Zambian mining industry,” he said.

Dr Situmbeko said that Government was equally positive about the future copper prices, which had gained by 25 per cent on the London Metal Exchange (LME) within this year after falling by 54 per cent last year.

Currently, he said, the price stood at around US$3,862 per tonne after China’s copper imports jumped by 55 per cent last month. This price level is the highest since November 2008.

He, however, noted that in the 2009 budget, Government had put in place programmes to diversify the economy and increase the potential for wealth creation through agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.

Dr Musokotwane said his ministry would this year address some challenges faced in the governance of State-owned-enterprises some of which had been a drain on national coffers.

“To forestall this trend and improve overall performance, my ministry will reinforce measures aimed at improving oversight, supervision, general management, corporate governance, quality systems and service delivery in State-owned enterprises.

“In this regard, I am pleased to inform you that we have provided K2 billion in this year’s budget for strengthening the implementation of the automated trading system on the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE),” he said

He said the growth of market capitalization on the LuSE over the last few years gave government hope that the market in Zambia, though experiencing a momentary reduction, was sustainable and a worthy choice for stock investments.

Dr Musokotwane noted that although share prices might have fallen, the overall performance of most listed companies had been satisfactory and was a testimony of the resilience of Zambia’s economy.

“The evidence of our market attractiveness is manifested by looking back at 2008 when K1.302 trillion was raised in seven issues on the Lusaka Stock Exchange. This means that on average, the LuSE market capitalisation grew from K13.07 trillion or US$ 3.188 billion in 2007 to K24.205 trillion or US$ 6.538 billion in 2008.

“As a result, market capitalisation to GDP ratio also grew from 40 per cent to 61 per cent. This scenario makes the Lusaka Stock Exchange an illustration of the stability of our economy and a demonstration of the depth of private sector development in Zambia,” he said.
[Times of Zambia]

A civil society organization has challenged Patriotic Front leader, Michael Sata, to declare his interest in the operations of Zambian Airways.

Zambia Direct Democracy Movement (ZDDM) national coordinator, Edwin Sakala, says it is clear that Mr. Sata has personal interest in the airline.

Mr. Sakala says the nation expects Mr. Sata to be in the forefront to ensure that the government recovers the debt owed by Zambian Airways.

He says the money can be used to improve the living standards of Zambians.

Mr. Sakala said in a statement that it is disappointing that Mr. Sata has acted contrary to people’s expectations.

Meanwhile, MMD National Secretary, Katele Kalumba, has appealed to party members to desist from commenting on allegations against former finance minister, Ngandu Magande.

Mr. Magande who is also Chilanga Member of Parliament has been accused of trying to ask government to delay repayment of a debt owed by Zambian Airways, a private firm.

Dr. Kalumba said in Lusaka that MMD members and all Zambians should respect official investigations, currently under way, on the financial irregularities at Zambian Airways.

He said people who have concerns should take their information to the committee investigating the matter.

Dr. Kalumba said Mr. Magande has expressed concern over the actions of some MMD members who are petitioning the party leadership to discipline him despite the matter being under investigations.

He said there is need to respect Mr. Magande’s concerns.

/NEWS/ZNBC