And Central Province Permanent Secretary Denny Lumbama has said there is need to start soliciting more funds to continue with the lead clean up programme in Kabwe.
Mr Ndopu said in a speech read for him by EMF committee member Engwase Mwale at a workshop to discuss management options for the CEP in Kabwe yesterday, that the project had scored positives.
He said six years down the line since the CEP project was launched in Ndola, a number of lead mitigation initiatives had been put in place in Kabwe, thereby reducing the lead contamination in the town.
“The project has recorded important milestones with the implementation of so many sub-projects in Kabwe which include the water supply, rehabilitation of mine plant area and the removal of mine waste from residences.
“Under the same project, we have managed to remove dredged materials from the main canal, the mine waste materials from Mulungushi Road slug dump and we have erected play parks for children to play on the greens,” he said.
The CEP project is financed through a grant from the World Bank and a credit from the Nordic Development Fund (NORDIC) which is implemented by the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines-Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) and comes to an end next year.
Objectives of the CEP were mainly to address environmental liabilities and obligations with the mining sector following the privatisation of the mining assets of ZCCM-IH.
Mr Ndopu, however, expressed concerns at reports of vandalism at play parks, water points and other facilities put in place through the project.
And officiating at the function, Mr Lumbama noted the need to secure financiers that would continue to implement the lead programme in Kabwe.
He said the lead pollution still remained a great challenge to the town, especially in children.
“Environmental pollution is a big challenge as it compromises the quality of life of communities and steadily holds back development,” Mr Lumbama said.
He was happy to note that the Government, through the CEP project, had continued to implement the remedial measures aimed at addressing environmental liabilities in Kabwe.
[Times of Zambia]
THATS GOOD AND WE HOPE THIS WILL CONTINUE EVEN AFTER THE 2011 ELECTION
A fact to consider is that poor Kabwe has made the world’s top ten cities as one of the most polluted. Kabwenese have reaped nothing out of the industires going on there, and there have been various reports that some children are born with deformities in this little town. God guide and protect them….