Tonga chiefs stand up against mining in Lower Zambezi NP

Lower Zambezi canoe safari - Image credit: 'No Mining in Lower Zambezi National Park' (Facebook page).

The Tonga Traditional Association has asked the Zambian Government to revoke the mining licence awarded to Mwembeshi Resources, a subsidiary of Zambezi Resources (Australia), to start a large-scale open cast mine in the Lower Zambezi National Park. The association president, Dickson Namanza, say it will interfere with the environment, culture, tradition and heritage for the people of Southern Province

Namanza said that the decision by the Minister of Lands and Environmental Protection, Harry Kalaba to allow mining was irrational and it lacked consultation with various stakeholders who among them included the traditional leadership in the area. Namanza said that his association was worried and concerned at the speed government was running to deplete the world’s heritage.

“We are concerned as people from Southern Province about the manoeuvre by the Minister of Lands Harry Kalaba to issue a mining licence in a National Park. We are wondering in whose interest they are issuing the licence? We ask this government to revoke the licence because it is not in the best interest of the people of Southern Province and Zambia in general,” Namanza said. He said that it was shocking that government was insisting on starting a mine in the national park at the expense of a thriving wildlife.

“The Lower Zambezi National Park is our pride as Zambians, it is our pride as the people of Southern Province and we see no reason why government should allow people to mine in this area. There should be no displacement of animals in that national park. Why can’t government ask the same investors to go to Munali Nickel mine in Mazabuka and continue with the mining project there rather than to start a new mine in the national park? We don’t want any further displacement of human beings and animals,” said Namanza.

“This is another fallen project by the [Government]; we shall not support it as it will destroy our tradition. That national park has a true meaning for the people of Southern Province and Western Zambia. We cannot compromise with our tradition. Let them go elsewhere with their money. We don’t need it,” said Namanza.

More on this issue from the Zambezi Traveller
Minister gives green light for Kangaluwi Copper Project in Lower Zambezi National Park (Jan 2014)
A conflict of interests? (June 2013)
Mining in National Park thrown out (Dec 2012)

Source:
Tonga chiefs condemn mining in the lower Zambezi (The Lusaka Times, 18 Feb 2014)

Related Stories:
Minister for Tourism opposes Government’s decision to allow mining in Lower Zambezi National Park (The Lusaka Times, 18 Feb 2014)

Join the 'No Mining in Lower Zambezi National Park' group on Facebook here.

Minister gives green light for Kangaluwi Copper Project in Lower Zambezi National Park

Minister gives green light for Kangaluwi Copper Project in Lower Zambezi National Park

Zambezi Resources Ltd announced recently that Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister Larry Kalaba has overturned the Zambia Environmental Management Agency’s rejection of its Environmental Impact Study and given the green light for Zambezi Resources Ltd to proceed with the Kangaluwi Copper Project in the Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia. The Park was being considered as a potential World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

In a letter dated January 17, 2014, addressed to Mwembeshi Resources Managing Director, Kalaba stated that he had carefully considered the submitted grounds of appeal against ZEMA's rejection.

"I have also carefully considered each and every ground of rejection given by the ZEMA board. In exercise of powers conferred on me by section 115 subsections 1, 2 and 3 of the environmental management Act, I have decided to approve the project on the following grounds," Kalaba stated. "Firstly, the project should go ahead because it will eventually create employment for ordinary people in the area. Secondly, there are currently available cost-effective technologies and methods to adequately address all the identified negative impacts that may arise from this project and lastly, wildlife management in the area will be enhanced and conserved by the proposed managed scheme contained in your submissions. By copy of this letter...liaise with ZEMA for them to issue a decision letter with all the appropriate conditions under which the project will operate."

Zambezi Resources Chairman, Mr David Vilensky welcomed the Zambian Government’s decision, complimenting the Zambian Government in allowing the Kangaluwi Copper Project to proceed within the National Park as part of its revised Mineral Resources Development Policy which seeks to strike a fair balance between the benefits of mining and the protection of the environment and wildlife conservation, provided its policies and laws are respected and adhered to and such investments will create employment opportunities for ordinary Zambians.

However in 2008, Chieftainess Chiawa (Chiawa/Kafue) Chiefs Chipepo, Simamba, Sinadambwe (of Siavonga district), and Chiefs Mupuka and Mburuma (Luangwa) had met and issued an historic statement against mining covering 18 chiefdoms.

More on this issue from the Zambezi Traveller
A conflict of interests? (June 2013)
Mining in National Park thrown out (Dec 2012)

Sources:
The Lusaka Times - Lands minister overturns Zambia Enviroment Management agency ruling and allows mining in Lower Zambezi National Park (22 Jan 2014).
The Lusaka Times - Lower Zambezi National park was due to be declared World Heritage site (23 Jan 2014).
The Zambian Post - Kalaba approves mining project in Lower Zambezi Park (23 Jan 2014).

Recent Updates:
The Zambian Post - Govt approval of Lower Zambezi mining project treacherous (26 Jan 2014)
The Zambian Post - Ngoma backs Lower Zambezi mining (28 Jan 2014)
The Lusaka Times - Injunction against Mining in Lower Zambezi successfully lodged at the High Court (03 Feb 2014)
The Lusaka Times - Zambezi Resources promises to build the cleanest, greenest and safest copper mine ever built in the Lower Zambezi (03 Feb 2014)

A conflict of interests

Full extended version of an article from the latest Zambezi Traveller.

Lower Zambezi National Park is one of Africa’s most valuable and beautiful wildlife areas and a top ranking global tourist destination. This flagship park generates the third highest park revenues in Zambia through the wildlife/tourism industry, one of Zambia’s top three economic sectors. However, the future of the Park and its wildlife is uncertain.

In March 2011 a Large Scale Mining Licence for an area (245 km2 ) within the National Park, known as Kangaluwi. The 25 year licence was issued to Mwembeshi Resources Ltd, a subsidiary of an Australian listed company, Zambezi Resources Ltd. 

Zambian law requires submission and approval of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before a licence is granted, but in this case the licence was granted first, on the condition an EIS was subsequently undertaken, an unusual step for such a contentious development in a nationally protected area.

Mwembeshi Resources subsequently submitted an EIS to the Zambia Environmental Management Agency. This was rejected by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) in August 2012 after a series of public hearings, consultations, opposition and petitions by various stakeholders (Mining in Park thrown out ZT, December 2012).

In November 2012 Mwembeshi Resources made an appeal to the Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the Hon Wilbur Simussa, MP. To date the Minister has not made an appeal decision.

In May industry media reported that the developer had provided additional information on the EIS to the Minister, which to date has not been made available to the public or stakeholders. Despite the absence of the appeal decision, Zambezi Resources has launched a $15 million recapitalization, apparently confident that the project will be approved.

In response to recent calls online and in national media from conservationists to petition against this development, the Minister has stated that “everyone can rest assured that there will be no shortcuts and no compromise with environmental standards whether the mine goes ahead or not”. He said the government was encouraging debate on how to handle the conflict between conservation and exploitation of natural resources. “Can mining and management of a game reserve be done at the same time in the same place? As pressure increases for the exploitation and extraction of minerals and other resources, we need to settle this question, especially that the conflict exists not only in the Lower Zambezi National Park but in other protected areas of Zambia where there are abundant minerals and other resources”. Simuusa also stated while government admitted that two fundamental requirements were overlooked when the mining licence was originally issued to the developers of the proposed mine, these matters were being addressed.

According to studies conducted by Zambezi Resources, the open-cast mining operation, which will have an operational footprint of 12.5 km2, will produce about 14,000 tonnes of copper concentrate per year over an initial 15 year period, as well as smaller amounts of gold, and the proposal also includes the option of developing local smelting and refining facilities.

Conservationists, NGOs and tour operators argue that allowing mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park will negatively affect the wider Park and set a dangerous precedent. An internationally important protected area intended to preserve critical ecological processes will be irreversibly damaged in return for short-term economic gain, as will the Park’s tourism industry and Zambia’s conservation reputation.

While the role of mining in Zambia’s national and local economic development is understood, concerned conservationists argue that mining should not be allowed in protected and ecologically sensitive areas such as the Lower Zambezi. As a unique and world-renowned ecosystem with immense long-term financial and ecological value to Zambia, the area deserves the highest level of protection for future generations.

Read more about the region in our destination guide:
Kariba & Middle Zambezi

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