The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has observed that the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) is eroding public confidence by allowing government to allegedly manipulate it to go against its Environmental Assessment Reports.
UPND vice president for politics Canicius Banda said that the trend ZEMA is exhibiting implies that the Agency is in a difficult situation which requires that it is further strengthened.
Dr. Banda told Qfm news in an interview that the strengthening of ZEMA for it to operate as an independent government department will help the agency to make right decisions in future in line with its mandate.
The UPND vice president has further called for a thorough and consultative process in the manner in which ZEMA executes its mandate.
He said there is also need for ZEMA to listen to the voice of the people as they are the owners of the country.
The Zambia Environment Management Agency u-turned it’s earlier decision and has formally given Zambezi Resources Ltd a go-ahead for its Kangaluwi Copper Project in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
For no reason at all, I completely agree with that sentiment, Mr Banda. Irrespective of our tribal division and where you emanating from, you make a compounding case and I think this ZEMA is a lot of tosh
Thanks
Mushota ZEMA comprises of highly qualified staff. If given latitude they can perform to high standards. Ask the mines on the copperbelt and Northwestern provinces they can attest to the professionalism of ZEMA under diffikoti and trying moments. they are’t tosh myfriend, they are against a promise that PF made to the people of Luangwa during the by election of Livison Ngoma. They were told about giving them jobs by opening up a mine and tarring the Luangwa via Chiawa road to chongwe. its politics at play. only people power can check it out.
If only Canius Banda was cleaner he could be somebody, but he looks like a ZAWA officer after his tour of lower Zambezi.
@Nostradamus
kikikikikikik,,,, he looks like ZAWA ofiicer Mushala. Zambia needs to desperate save that national park especially the hyenas in it for future use,, you never know the hyenas might be used to eradicate certain individuals like George Chellah and mmembe instead of wasting tax payer`s money keeping them in jail, feeding them to hyenas is cheaper and also amounts to climate change intervention.. but am not sure if the hyenas would mange to eat Kabimba`s meat(beef) without dying thereafter
surely is that the only thing u can comment? Any I can read what is in your skull
Does he look like Shamenda?
what use has ZEMA?
Under the setting where a Minister overrules ZEMA’s decisions, ZEMA is useless……………..!
Dr. Banda well looks like you could use a razor… that aside though, did you people expect the outcome to be different from what the local people really need.? The mine owners have support of GRZ and the local population which makes it hard for zema to do otherwise.
@ Big L, that is precisely the point Dr. Banda is making. ZEMA should not feel the pressure of any body or local people or govt if they are given the teeth and the strength o operate. They have the expertise and should be the one guiding us because we assume they’ll have studied the matter from all perspectives.
As Zambians we should stop misdirecting our energies fighting unworthy causes. We should be fighting to own maybe 50% of the mine since the copper is ours in the first place except we are unable to dig it ourselves. Those who are making noise about the environment should lead by example by practicing open defecation since the toilet bowl, hand wash basin, taps and sewer pipes are made of materials mined from somewhere. Toilet paper is also made from trees!
Is there any institution in Zambia which operates independently when SATA’s portrait seats right above that institutions executive director?
Zambians are really pejorative. How can one just imagine and submit a comment wondering whether hyenas can manage to eat somebody flesh without the hyenas themselves dying? What do you mean Ndobo? Is this person’s flesh poisonous? I can’t just stop laughing.
No, not poisonous. It will just leave a very bad taste in the mouth after eating it!
Some people are so full of SHlT they taste terrible!
indeed Dr.Banda…that place has been brought down by lack of clear policies under PF..
The circus continues……….. ZEMA has been toothless for sometime. What a shame …………………….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It used to be called ECZ and it was useless. Now it is called ZEMA and it is right down the toilet.
bwantu he who pays the piper calls the tune. what do you expect ZEMA to do i this case? They rejected the project with concerns. But the law demands that the appeal is made to the Minister of environment. we should cry to change this law so that appeals are done through the high court or a court tribunal. by doing so a balanced view would be taken into consideration when a project is rejected. otherwise, ZEMA is a victim of consequences of politcal decision. Imagine the Minister had the audacity to order ZEMA to graft conditions under which the mine would operate. what can you do when you are scared to be fired should you resist. They will even tell you Boma ni Boma.
the world over people have shifted from EIAs but have adopted the more human centred Health Impact Assessment (HIA) this approach not only looks at the environmnent but at the socio-economic and environmental impact and the potential to affect the health of the people now and in the future.
ZEMA are now baboons. Shame on them.
If ZEMA were dogs, they would have barked. These are pigs and vultures, already to feasting on the carcass!
Sorry, meant to say: If ZEMA were dogs, they would have barked. These are pigs and vultures, already feasting on the carcass!
What can ZEMA do when Guy and Sata are honouring their campaign promises to there funders.
The truth is that ZEMA has been placed in a state of being a petrified HUSBAND with FEAR under the circumstances when THUGS tell him, at GUN-point, to hand over his WIFE to be RAPED by a team of murderous GANGSTERS.
We pray that the structures of ZEMA are not disrupted in the manner the PF destroyed ZAWA. Next year (2015) will usher-in 2016 leading to a new Govt that will restore normality. Only thereafter will our Traditional Chiefs breathe a sigh of relief to regain their natural royal integrity.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu, Chiefs Mungule, Jumbe, Mukuni of the Lenje, Kalindawalo etc are urged to remain calm and nurture their peoples like eggs to be hatched when the wild cats and hyena are out of sight.
God Hear Our Prayers
Clearly, Dr Canisius Banda has missed the facts of this issue, that is if he has been quoted correctly. The fact is that ZEMA did not approve the Environmental Impact Assessment of February 2012 for the Kangaluwi Copper Project, Mwembeshi Resources Ltd (100% owned by Zambezi Resources Ltd), under the large scale mining license – No 15547-HQ-LML! This was stated in ZEMA’s Decision Letter of September 5, 2012. Mwembeshi Resources, thus, appealed against this decision to the Minister Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection on September 19, 2012. Mwembeshi Resources appeal was upheld by the Minister on January 17, 2014 pursuant to Section 116 of Environmental Management Act, 2011.*****
Clearly, Dr Canisius Banda has missed the facts of this issue, that is if he has been quoted correctly. The fact is that ZEMA did not approve the Environmental Impact Assessment of February 2012 for the Kangaluwi Copper Project, Mwembeshi Resources Ltd (100% owned by Zambezi Resources Ltd), under the large scale mining license – No 15547-HQ-LML! This was stated in ZEMA’s Decision Letter of September 5, 2012. Mwembeshi Resources, thus, appealed against this decision to the Minister Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection on September 19, 2012. Mwembeshi Resources appeal was upheld by the Minister on January 17, 2014 pursuant to Section 116 of Environmental Management Act, 2011. See mbinjimufalo.blogspot.com/2014/02/kangaluwi-environmental-dilemma-where.html for more insights.
Syvia Masebo whats your take? This directly affects your ministry…..!!
I believe the Minister of Tourism should be allowed to ‘speak’ on such matters?? Can I please hear what she has to say. Or does she only talk when its by election time and when she is cancelling hunting licences? Why is Zambia so heavily POLITICISED??