GEARS Initiative Zambia Ltd, an NGOs dedicated to strengthen and promote governance, elections, advocacy and research services, has said that it is aware of the existence of an Ex-Parte Order from the High Court of Zambia restraining Tullow Zambia BV from “undertaking or engaging in any petroleum exploration activities of whatsoever nature and description with respect to the area particularly described and known as block 31 located in the Northern Province of Zambia.”
In a statement released to the media yesterday and signed by the director Mr McDonald Chioenzi, the NGO asked the Attorney General, Likando Kalaluka, to inform the nation the exact legal status of Tullow Zambia’s Oil and Gas Exploration Project in Kasama District of Northern Province.
Over the weekend, President Lungu launched the first ever oil and gas exploration project being undertaken by Tullow Zambia BV in Luapula and Northern provinces.
The head of State said the launch of the oil project in Black 31 was a milestone in Government’s efforts to realise its vision of transforming Zambia into a middle-income nation by 2030 in line with the Seventh National Development Plan.
Below is the full statement from GEARS NGO
The Attorney General, Likando Kalaluka, S.C, should inform the nation the exact legal status of Tullow Zambia’s Oil and Gas Exploration Project in Kasama District of Northern Province.
GEARS Initiative Zambia Ltd, an NGOs dedicated to strengthen and promote governance, elections, advocacy and research services, is aware of the existence of an Ex-Parte Order from the High Court of Zambia restraining Tullow Zambia BV from “undertaking or engaging in any petroleum exploration activities of whatsoever nature and description with respect to the area particularly described and known as block 31 located in the Northern Province of Zambia.”
In the case referenced 2013/APP/NO.007 in High Court of Zambia between RAE Zambia Limited and the Attorney General, as respondent, the Court directed Tullow Zambia BV to comply with the Order forthwith stopping its engagement in Petroleum Exploration in Block 31.
Instead, the Court directed Tullow Zambia BV “not to interfere with the Appellant’s rights to enjoy the benefits conferred on it under the Petroleum Exploration License No. PEL/007 pursuant to the provisions of section 13 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act No. 10 of 2008.”
GEARS Initiative Zambia is aware that this matter is scheduled for inter-partes hearing on August 25, 2017 and wonders why the President and his government was in haste to launch and commission a disputed Tullow Oil and Gas Exploration Project before the case is heard and determined by the Courts.
Therefore, President Edgar Lungu’s launch and commissioning of the Tullow Oil and Petroleum Exploration Project in Kasama district of Northern on Friday, August 11, 2017, unless it is not part of the specified Block 31 in the Court Order, is a blatant disregard of the Ex-Parte Order from the Court awarded to the Appellant and undermines the doctrine of the Separation of Power and rule of law in this country.
If President Lungu acted in knowledge of this Ex-Parte Order and decided to disregard its orders and directives, then Zambia’s judiciary and the doctrine of Separation of State Power is under siege from the Executive.
Should it be established that the President did not know about this Order despite the Attorney General being the respondent to the case, then, the President must quickly act on his Minister of Mines and the Attorney General for their failure to adequately brief him on the state of the Tullow Oil and Petroleum Exploration Project he was to launch and commission in Kasama District of Northern Province.
Can the nation be told when the Ex-Parte Order was discharged.
Good governance is an imperative of sound democratic process and also investor confidence. Disregarding court orders is bad governance and undermines the growth and existence of an enviable democratic process in any country.
McDonald Chipenzi
Director
Visionless Jonathan Lungu is at the helm of corruption. This Tullow thing is a banditry company.
Visionless Jonathan should just release HH today & end the deteriorating reputation of Zambia abroad.
The Skeleton Key
~206~
@The Skeleton Key I see no mention of HH in the headline!Please stick to he menu. The article is very clearly about rule of law- nothing to do with politics! Just rule of law.
When we say this president, Edgar Lungu doesn’t know anything and is surrounded by wrong advisors, this exactly what we mean. So embarrassing but unfortunately State House in Zambia has no shame. Amos Chanda, Kaizer Zulu and Freedom Sikazwe are too illiterate to be main presidential advisors. But who chose them?
No company can claim any rights to prospect for oil in Northern Zambia. Macdoanald Chipenzi knows that once oil is discovered, chances of UPND ever winning the presidency will be zero. Chipenzi Fred Mmembe fired you for being a UPND spy at the post. We all know that.
No, no, no, don’t tell me even the chitimukulu who always wants to look and sound learned and knowledgeable is not aware of this court fimo, fimo, your royal highness this the problem of mingling with mediocrity, you may end up mediocre, like some lawyer every Zambian know.
These are some of the chains against Zambia that we need to break. There are forces of evil that are against Zambia developing & the fate of the poor being uplifted. What license is RAE claiming if GRZ has given Tullow the license? Can a foreign entity like RAE be allowed to prevent Zambia from progressing? Why are some Zambians celebrating this abuse of courts as if it’s good for the country? And why are courts allowing themselves to be play ground of economic mercenaries even for such important national assets & projects? Tullow has already made important discoveries along this Rift valley & the devil is itching against Zambia progressing. God help Zambia in breaking all these chains! God Bless Zambia!
@chosen how do you fall for an organization calling you TULO ZAMBIA? if you loosely translate that it means SLEEPY ZAMBIA. wake up Zambia, Galamukani.
These so much confusion in this Party and it’s government. Even the Ministers of Legal and Mines didn’t know about this? What an embarrassing situation.
@ Shu shu … oil and Gas was discovered in Ghana by the same Tullow oil but the Party that was in power then has been booted out nonetheless I may only agree with you to the extent that Zambians are not generally as enlightened as the Ghanaians so they have limited scope in looking at the bigger picture when voting.
Embarrassing that Lungu has Joined RB in Corruption practices. Who does not that Sata had rejected this exploration as it is fake, a way to steal money?? Furthermore, Lungu and RB are Engaged in a Tag of war for Control of Block 31 of Luapula and Northern Province, with RB camp support another corrupt comapny Rapid Energy Africa (RAE). These shameless leaders with no vision will finish our Country.
It is really sad for Young Zambians who vote blindly after being given Vi-Chibuku.. Either we change our minds and fight these corrupt leaders or remain poor as they steal more.
Apparently the injunction restraining Rungu and minions was placed by non other than yours truly Ala Bee, Rubiah Bwezani Banda.
Vodiga Rungu can chase Chishimba Kambwili with minor damage, but rubbing Ala Bee the wrong way will have fatal political consequences.
Let the show begin, let’s see who is the greedier, more ruthless one, Ala Bee or Vodiga Rungu.
@1.1 JUST IGNORE SOME OF THESE F00LS. ACCORDING TO @1 THERE’S A MENTION OF UNDERPANT OR IS IT UNDER 5, IN THE ARTICLE. NI VIPUBA.
Zambians get excited with Stupid things, these leaders are stealing in their eyes yet busy praising them. Countries are now investing in RENEWABLE ENRGY not this nonsense. It’s a trick to steal your money. At the end they will claim that no gas of oil is found. Why should a President worst his time on this??
There was a court order to give Rupiah Banda his passport back but the MCS regime ignored it.Tullow Oil will get their way after greasing $ome hand$.
@Enka I love the $$ on $ome hands$
Utulo zoona pa zed! Citizens who question decisions made by their servants the leaders are never taken for a ride, e.g. Botswana citizens are very wise and care for their country. That can explain why things are working very well in that country. When citizens choose to worship their leaders to the point of accepting their leader’s decisions as gospel truth or that the leader knows best, that is when citizens become donkeys – leaders taking citizens for a ride to commit corruption in broad day light. Why has state house suddenly become the Investment house? Is this not a recipe for the worst forms of corruption? By playing the tribal card, Lungu has successfully implemented his divide and rule tactics such that those who do their civic duties of keeping leaders in check are perceived as…
By playing the tribal card, Lungu has successfully implemented his divide and rule tactics such that those who do their civic duties of keeping leaders in check are perceived as enemies of the state. This is wrong and we citizens must wake up! Zambia is not our country but we hold it in trust for our children. What kind of Zambia do we want to leave for our children? Check the many corrupt deals going on at State house and begin to demand answers. Enough is enough!
THat’s Lazy Lungu for you…this man is supposed to a lawyer really laughable he took a working holiday for this when he knew there was a court order. Watch this space carefully and hope he doesnt interfere!!
Why didn’t your Chipenzi bring this out or better still put in an injunction? I know your answer will be “courts are compromised “. But at least he would have done something instead of waiting days after the launch has taken place.
Put an injunction for what? Why do you always defend wrong doing with out thinking through….if there is a court order the President should have stayed well clear of this!!
Jay jay this ndanje is wasted spermatozoa, chakuposa pachishala. I pity the chitimukulu, this man has made him look scantily knowledgeable about his own chiefdom.
And you say your President is a lawyer ??
Why he was blacklisted by LAZ and deregistreed is becoming clear…….
Jay Jay nobody is defending a wrong here. Only a biased baboon like divided and ruled and yourself can think so. What can stop you from putting in an injunction to stop what you think is not right? And don’t tell me this Macdonald Chimpanzee came to know about this case after Edgar had launched the project…that’s if there’s any case at all. Problem with you anti PF goons is that you think you know everything and other people should not express their opinions. Dictatorship can come in all forms like the way you always want to be a Mr Know it all.
Wafulwa iwe, chakubaba iwe mandingo.
Why should I be angry when the person I voted for is president. On the contrary it’s who’s got demons because you always dream of HH in State House only to wake up and discover the reality.
If the oil company finds oil it will benefit the country. Now development cannot come with agents like Donald Chipenzi with his NGO waning to punch in holes in this iniatiative. Carry on Excellency ECL. We the majority we are following you to bring development to Zambia let those dreaming that HH will be president let them dream on. We are talking development not Lungu this, Lungu that. Keep on mourning one year is gone. Leave ECL alone put your house in order.
Read the article ..its no wonder you get nothing from reasources in your own backyard as you are too lazy to read!!
Iwe it is not punching holes. Whether oil is found or not the rule of law should be adhered to. That is why this country is poor because of allowing mediocrity. Look at how our minerals are being exploited with no real benefit to the country. We are third producers of emeralds in the world but look at the benefit , zero. With the emeralds we produce we can forget about copper for now and leave it for the future generation to come and exploit . My friend development which is not based on sound rule of law is a recipe for corruption, wars and general disaster. Dont just be blinded by some so called “development” which rarely benefits the investor and a few thieving politicians. Look at the greements signed with the mining houses in Zambia especially to do energy. You and me are paying…
The launch was announced many days ago so if Mr Chipenzi was a serious person he could have put in an injunction to stop the launch. By the way I notice that Chipenzi lives on forming NGOs.
@Ndanje khakis. A court order stays in place otherwise. Chipenzi and others know about it as in place, why and when they begin to talk about it is when that court order has been breached as it has now by PF regime with lawyer president EC Lungu.
CHIPENZI NI TULYA UTU BANTU TWABA FYE READY WITH A BUCKET OF ICE-COLD WATER TO POUR ON ANY PERCEIVED DEVELOPMENT AGENDA OR PLAN EVEN IF HE KNOWS THE WRONG DOING AGES AGO TO TIGGER THE ALARM. BUT, THIS IS TYPICAL OF THIS ANIMAL CALLED UPND PARTY. REALLY, IF CHIPENZI HAD NOBLE INTEREST FOR THE COUNTRY AND NOT CROOKED ONES, HE WOULD HAVE TRIGGERED THE ALARM, LONG BEFORE THE LAUNCH SINCE HE HAD THE ALL INTELLIGENCE. BUT, BECAUSE OF BEING DRIVEN BY SADISM CHIPENZI WAS JUST WAITING FOR THE LAUNCH TO HAPPEN SO THAT HIS BUCKET-FULL OF ICE COLD WATER CAN BE USEFUl.
Painful truth@ 3 & 4, Can you add some more flesh to your lean statement. Chipenzi has raised an issue that you and me probably did not know exists before. He has also tried hard to avoid outright accusation by asking the president to respond, fair enough. But you come in with a trible card , leader worship. I have not yet seen an attack on Mr Chipenzi for raising the issue, yet you seem to be suggesting that he has already been declared enemy of the state. Bring more credible info you have too if we have work together to expose wrong doing in govt ,and try hard to stick to the issue at hand if you are to raise considerable points.
Sad part is the Upnd supporters seem to have a split personality. They claim to fight for the poor citizens but when government try to do something about it they (upnd ) still find a way to discredit the efforts. The strategy is from a demented mind.
Spy mashra
That is how PF work….almost every thing can be seen as illigal….they even have leaders on film advising PF thugs to steal council plots and take over public places and people wonder why Zambia is becoming such a lawless country ?? It is because of the banditry and corruption of PF and lungu…..rotten leadership morals only fit for the pit latrines of chawama for our youth to follow…
Zambians with yo poverty ,yo politics have taken over everything that you can’t see any thing good in Lungu except politics and upnd,when this oil will start coming out this Lungu will not be there as President, maybe it will be hh in power by then,muletontonkanya .
I remember how some of these people celebrated when the mines retrenched miners soon after the election of Edgar as president in January 2015.
You mean that UPNDonkey Chipenzi is still around? Sorry I had forgotten about it. Anyway nothing tangible ever comes of Donkeys.
How can an Ex Parte order dated 2013 come up for inter parte hearing on 25 August 2017?
Bu (UPN)Donkey nabo, awe lisambi! Abanensu ku easteen ati maloza.
And you blame the UPND for that delay. Wow!
This is the issue of fighting for jobs. Chimpanzee chipenzi should respect people of northern province.
We want job to be done and chipenzi go to hell where you belong with your hopeless NGO thing.
Its time to work not to talk. In fact u are just being jealous that oil will be discovered in Bembaland and I’m sure you know how Bembas will become more powerful, more stronger if that happened.
So jealous down Mr. Chimpanzee chipenzi.
Allow job to be done.
You are simply shortsighted empty tins who only think of what you will eat today.
The name “illigall lungu ” suits him.
wenyo! Ha spaka like lito.le
Hehehehe
The PF rats getting desperate…
BTW our efforts to invite as many forigne media as possible have beared fruit …with many international media houses now aware of a treason case and the spot light now on good governance in Zambia.. ….
Again well done to all who put an effort…
Lungu will never obey court orders; what a shame of a man who claims to be a lawyer;
This is the company that found oil and has started pumping dollars in Kenya and Uganda.
If there is oil in NP, these guys will find it.
They are not one of the majors like Shell. But what they are famous for is finding oil in the most unexpected of places ! Oil has been found in Tanzania also. Why not Zambia ?
“In a statement released to the media yesterday and signed by the director Mr McDonald Chioenzi, the NGO asked the Attorney General, Likando Kalaluka, to inform the nation the exact legal status of Tullow Zambia’s Oil and Gas Exploration Project in Kasama District of Northern Province”.
SINCE WHEN DID LUAPULA BECOME PART OF NORTHERN PROVINCE?
Those are economic battles being fought by tribalism , unfortunately the president has excutive powers to allow what is good for the nation and not the courts.
You cant stop the economy to run just because you have a personal problems with a section of people in the nation , leave everthing to the president he knows how to handle such issues .
Zambia must move on no roadblocks
Imwe, its this Donald Chipenzi Sh1t again! dont take him seriously because what we need is development in Zambia and by a determined Government of President Lungu. As my brother has earlier observed, UPNDonkeys are so scared now that serious development initiatives have started taking root in the Northern Circuit, talk of the successful Luapula 2017 Expo, Livestock Restocking, Fish Farming, Mineral discoveries and now Oil and Gas exploration, the chaps will forever only be welcoming rejects from other parties like Kambwili.
How can one be losing General elections for six times consecutively and no change of leadership is called for? Who do you blame, the followers of their failed leader? For us, its the blind followers because its like kachema has done a spell and curse on them but they…
This comment deserves an award.
The UPND will do anything to protect Greg Mills mining interests in the country. We need to be very vigilant to fight this evil force which has befallen Zambia.
The fear is that if other parts of the country developed such industries then the people who accuse the government of stealing their wealth to develop their original homes will have nothing to complain about. Complaining is their pastime.
There is no oil , it is lungu conning the bemba chiefs who seem do blinded when they see white men……..lungu is lying about oil to align the bemba chiefs with him against GBM , kambwili and SP….
At the bemba ceremony they said Tonga chiefs were present is why they banned kambwili yet they fail to mention which chiefs, it was head men they are now calling chiefs.. ..
@Ndanje khakis sounds quite anathematised intellectually. To assert any means to justify the end is unacceptable in today’s world of accountability and good judgement. Covet the concept of ‘complexity management’ one of its strands advocates ability to log on to the novelty world and consequences of its inability to do so leads to irrecoverable loss (death). Complex management which is what any area of management entails today does not make political decisions exceptional. Rules need to be adhered to, for fair beneficial results for the good of the nation.
So you’re suggesting you’re more intelligent than all the guys who run government? Tell me since you “settled ” in the UK have made any inventions apart from working for your living. …something to show us how clever you’re since over there the environment is very conducive for innovations.
Mr Macdonald Chipenzi a known UPND cadre and zealot should know that the Republican President of any country has the power to act in National Interest…And if this project is in National Interest then he has the power to do so…Look at the way ZRL and Zamtel was taken back to the Government just by proclamation…The President been an elected official has more power than any appointed official that is the fact…You will argue going round and but you will still come back to the first beginning that the President acts on behalf of the people whether right or wrong…
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST LATE MWANAWASA ALSO DID THE SAME IN NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE WHEN A BLOCKS WAS DIVIDED IN KABOMPO,ZAMBEZI AND CHAVUMA AND IT WAS CONFIRMED BUT THESE PLANS DIED WITH THE OWNER.
SINCE WE HAVE OIL IN ANGOLA SO NORTH WESTERN HAS OIL ALSO ANYWAY EVERTHING IN ZAMBIA IS POLITICS .
#1 with @Skeletons in your cupboard, the visionless guy who has lost 5 consecutive elections is in prison! He is an Under Five Card Case just like you clueless supporters!
@HaMcDonald Chipenzi!
Masters at negativity#21@ Spaka like lilo, losing candidates!