The World Wide Fund for Nature Zambia has urged government to cancel the mining license issued to the investors in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
WWF Zambia Country Director Nachilala Nkombo said in a statement that government should halt any attempts by the developer to move onsite in Lower Zambezi National Park.
Ms. Nkombo said government should also constitute a task force that will revisit key findings of the independent evaluation report on Kangaluwi mine.
Ms. Nkombo said WWF Zambia is deeply disappointed by the High Court ruling that allows Zambezi Resources Limited to proceed with establishment of an open pit mining operation at the proposed Kangaluwi site in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
She said the Zambian Government must take immediate action to safeguard Lower Zambezi National Park, a key natural asset.
She said the Lower Zambezi National Park is one of four national parks that generate up to 96% of Zambia’s non-consumptive wildlife tourism revenues.
“Although the mine is expected to cover about 980 km2, which is about 25% of the park, it is estimated that more than 50% of the national park will be lost (the entire northern part of the park).”
“This means that the primary reasons for which the park was initially established will be lost forever.”
“The Lower Zambezi National Park was established in 1983 to Conserve biodiversity, including iconic and rare wildlife, forest, and fresh water species, that also ensure ecosystem function.”
She added, “The Park was also created to protect the Rufunsa, Chakwenga and Chongwe River watersheds and conserve ecosystem services that also serve as a buffer to climate change impacts and provide for scientific knowledge advancement, public education, and tourism development.”
“WWF Zambia is therefore gravely concerned about the far-reaching economic, social, and environmental consequences that an open cast mine will have on the Lower Zambezi ecosystem.”
Ms Nkombo says the action by the High Court negates Zambia’s progress as a country on SDG Goal 15 which aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
She said proceeding with the proposed course of action in Lower Zambezi will rob current and future generations of Zambians of their rich natural resource heritage.
“WWF Zambia therefore cautions that awarding this mining license in an ecologically sensitive national park such as Lower Zambezi may set a dangerous precedent for large-scale investments in high biodiversity areas,” he said.
“National parks contribute to sustenance of Zambia’s ecological processes, provision of ecosystem services, tourism economy, and cultural values, and there is risk they will increasingly be targeted for conflicting uses that erode the unique values that make them key natural capital assets; thereby disregarding the natural inheritance of the Zambian people.”
She said WWF Zambia is not in support of this High Court judgement and observes that the appeal dismissal is based on a technicality, rather than a hearing of the substantive case.
“WWF Zambia is committed to engage in dialogue and processes that explore lawful and legitimate avenues to withdraw the Kangaluwi mining license,” Ms Nkombo said.
“In this regard, WWF Zambia lauds civil society efforts to ensure this matter is heard before the Supreme Court; including presentation of key risks associated with the proposed mine.”
Good call!
Right on, Nachilala. It’s a very fragile , semi-arid area. If they start blasting there, there could even induce an earthquake. I hv already signed the petition to stop the madness.
This is a tough call. The philosophical question is: “Should we leave the mineral wealth lying dormant in the ground to save wild animals?” Imagine how many tunnels and bridges would never have been constructed if we cared for mountains and rivers more than transportation. The opportunity cost here is clearly in favour of going ahead with the mining project. We can relocate the animals. Someone here mentioned the possibility of an earthquake, its a dead end debate friend, learn to get out of your comfort zone once in a while, Recarlibrate your richter scale.
No need to appeal. Green Party President Peter Sinkamba has said that the authority granted by Kalala to commence mining expired in 2017. So what are you going to appeal against? Appeal against an expired authority? That will be tantamount to academic excercise or an excersize in futility.
ECL, man up! Stop this lunacy of damaging Zambia’s biodiversity. First it was Mukula and now this bu ll5hit.
God bless Zambia.
Zambia will remain in poverty if we let organisations like the WWF to push our development agenda. G into the lower Zambezi and see the levels of poverty in places like Lusitu where nothing edible grows. Inhabitants of such places like Lusitu can improve their livelihoods by directly getting jobs from the mine or indirectly by selling a wide range of products to the workers in the mine. WWF should not try to prove its relevance by holding Zambians in poverty so that foreigners can come and entertain themselves after they cleared all the nature in their countries.
DON’T EXCITE PEOPLE BY QUOTING FIGURES LIKE 96%. IS 96% OF $1,000,000 THE SAME OR LARGER THAN 16% OF $5 BILLION? ZAMBIANS WAKE UP TO REALITY
Where would Zambia be without the mining industry? There we are capturing lech we for Private game reserves and onward sale to SA. What are the benefits?
How much money does this park contribute to the economy. How many jobs has it created. Open Pit mine will create wealth for the government and employment for the tribalists
How much wealth are the existing copper mines contributing to GRZ ???
You will just destroy a beautiful ecosystem that is best left for future generations of Zambians to enjoy……
The license issued by Harry Kalaba!! He issued many licences to even Bushiri for his emerald mines. Ati corruption in PF?? These chaps embedded corruption in PF and are blaming it on others?? Ba kolwe…
Zambians like following blindly. Wild animals cannot be more important than human beings. Zambia survives on revenue from copper. Animals will not die but relocate. Even where Lusaka is there were animals living there before.
The benefits of the mine to Zambia far out ways those of the animals. All lodges there belong to foreigners who have made sure common zambians fail to see these animals by charging discrimatory rates.
Point!
And is copper a renewable resource? All the mines we have had in Zambia which are closing even as we speak what has Zambia gained more unemployment and destroyed cities like luanshya and kabwe because of copper dependence. Look to other means of investment not just mines all the time. Big holes and toxic substances will be left in our land to enrich the western worlds. We are not saying don’t mine we are simply saying don’t mine in the national park.
The tone of the statement seems to blame the Court for the decision yet the culprit is Harry Kalaba. The litigants failed to file the Record of Appeal since February 2014! What kind of lawyers do we have in Zambia? Kalaba must explain why he overruled ZEMA. Govt must stop this debate by canceling the license forthwith. If they were corrupted that’s their problem. When Ministers are quiet just know they’ve eaten
The tone of the statement seems to blame the Court for the decision yet the culprit is Harry Kalaba. The litigants failed to file the Record of Appeal since February 2014! What kind of lawyers do we have in Zambia? Kalaba must explain why he overruled ZEMA. Govt must stop this debate by canceling the license forthwith. If they were corrupted that’s their problem. When Ministers are quiet just know they’ve eaten
The Lower Zambezi is a sector of the Rift Valley where the valley system forms a narrow strip of land which is inhabited by people as well as a sanctuary for wildlife. Due to the narrow nature of the valley, the animals freely spread to both the Zambian and Zimbabwean territories and thus offer the best tourist business beneficial to both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Mining operations in this area will disturb the natural ecosystem which is inhabited by wildlife and our people. This is an international concern that will necessitate discussions between Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Mining is a non-renewable industry. HENCE IT IS LOGICAL FOR ZAMBIA TO STOP DESTRUCTIVE MINING OPERATIONS IN LOWER ZAMBEZI.
Gents…..
It’s not all about contributing to the GDP , what you are not asking yourselves is ,
What will we leave our future generations of Zambians ? You are destroying all forests and now game parks in the pursuit of GDP contributions ??? What we have already is far from enough if managed well.
Henry, Mulele, Mwansa Kabinga and Ayatollah you have valid points. How much do these high end lodges in our game parks owned by foreigners contribute to our GDP or tax revenue?? This topic clearly needs an open and fair discussion before arriving at the conclusion. This is the attitude we need on this fora, not the usual insulting, partisanism and tribalism.
They contribute a lot, mind you in Zambia you need around 15 licenses and permits to run a lodge and these are all renewable every year and fees paid. Most PF Ministers now have lodges and game ranches. Combined the mines contribute a paltry 6% to the Treasury and don’t compensate for the environmental degradation
Gents…..
It’s not all about contributing to the GDP , what you are not asking yourselves is ,
What will we leave our future generations of Zambians ? You are destroying all forests and now game parks in the pursuit of GDP contributions ??? What we have already is far from enough if managed well.
If you are failing to get by with what Zambia has already , destroying a game park for a mine will not change anything…
The Zambezi River Catchment is a complex economic and ecological international ecosystem. Rift Valleys are actually very fragile ecosystems. An important stakeholder in the ecosystem of the Lower Zambezi is the Zambezi River Authority in the management of (1) Kariba Dam, (2) proposed Batoka Hydroelectric Project and (3) the Cahora Bassa Dam. Mining in Lower Zambezi will negatively impact on Lower Zambezi and Mana Pool National Parks as sustainable natural resources. Govts of Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe (plus South Africa) must seriously reflect on the impact of the proposed Mine especially on the Cahora Bassa Dam, which is programmed to supply power to Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. THIS IS A GRAND OPPORTUNITY FOR PRESENT LUNGU TO ISSUE A DECREE TO STOP MINING ALONG THE ZAMBEZI…
The Zambia Government must consult and seek for wise Counsel in the fields of Geology, Hydrology, biodiversity and sustainable generation of hydroelectric power in the region. Besides there is a natural corridor of elephant migration extending from the Lower Zambezi that traverses through south of Rufunsa-Luangwa confluence to link up into the lower sector of the Luangwa Valley. This Mine will give rise to irreparable ecological and economic catastrophe in our region. WE PRAY THAT THIS IS A GRAND OPPORTUNITY FOR PRESENT LUNGU TO ISSUE AN INFORMED DECREE TO STOP MINING ALONG THE LOWER ZAMBEZI ECOSYSTEM.
The Mining investor was deliberately greedy by concealing vital data to the High Court, on the fragile nature of a rift valley system. African rift valley ecosystems and their surrounding areas experience a phenomenon of earthquakes and tremours, which are passages of vibrations usually caused by a sudden blow. Tremours are set up (a) by landslides, (b) by rock falls in mines and (c) by explosions of all kinds. A Town of Mzuzu in Malawi is often hit by tremours originating from Lake Malawi (Nyasa) rift system. Lusaka also experiences tremours originating from major rock movements due to changes in water body levels on Kariba Dam. It follows then that waves of vibrations arising from a Mine in Lower Zambezi will affect the structures of dam walls on Kariba and Cahora Bassa. Food for…
The above information is food for thought by Governments of Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as the regions strives to reflect on measures designed to mitigate effects of climate change.
The above information is food for thought by Governments of Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as the region intensively reflect on measures to mitigate the impact of climate change in southern Africa.
Zambians surely how would we allow an investor to choose a precious place to set his mine. Mines perish with time and all they do is leave huge disastrous holes and toxic matter that affect us at the benefit of enriching their countries. The investment we should be allowing in Zambia is in energy generation, healthcare, agriculture and Technology. Surely of all places he can set up a mine why a national park. If the judiciary fails us again and the executive too we the people can take it in our own hands to restore Zambia back to prosperous ways.
This is not even debatable, what do we everyday people gain from already existing mines????? Literally nothing! This mine will just destroy our beautiful lower Zambezi. The will just Mine and in a few years say its not viable and dump it leaving a big crater
LT where is the other half of my comment, I want even those in this government to see it. Why should people be scared to correct or tell off the thieving servants we put in power? You are a compromised media ba LT. Let people air out their grievances. When you become scared of the government you give them the green light to plunder more. Treat this government like you treat your own servants in your homes.
That lungu chap and the PF should be fed to the crocodiles for the raping of our national parks for personal gains
I’m ashamed to be called a Zambian
No!
THEY WILL NEVER CANCEL THE LICENCE – THEY HAVE SOLD THEIR SOULS AND OUR COUNTRY TO THE CHINESE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John mulele and others are missing very important points 1) this mining activities will bring pollution to the mighty Zambezi 2) and in my own opinion climate change in that area it will definitely reduce the rainfall 3) once the mining activities are over what next ? you would have destroyed a natural resource meant to save us forever.. Mr mulele no one has stopped us Zambians to go and build a lodge in the park our mindsets are the one’s that need to change.
@ John please stop attacking the Head of State, it is not in order to all the time commenting bad on the leadership. one thing you should know is that President Edgar Lungu is a listening and a very humble God given leader who at all cost with his cabinet are working so hard to improve the welfare of this country Zambia. Stop the hate and abusive comments for each and every well meaning Zambian should respect the leadership in government for they are our parents too. Stop behaving like a person who always say ” i know it all” ………
The truth is forests and game parks should not be touched ……
If you are failing to develop with the mines already open , destroying a game park for another mine will not help……
But looking at ” lungu long fingers” record, the game parks are indeed doomed. He started with the reserve forests then looting animals in game parks now lungu long fingers and his gang want to loot whole game parks……
The final nail in Zambias wild life will be when the Chinese start bribing lungu in Ernest to get at the game parks.
Right now it is the white conservationists and lodge owners keeping the Chinese at bay…….
The truth is forests and game parks should not be touched ……
If you are failing to develop with the mines already open , destroying a game park for another mine will not help……
But looking at ” lungu lo.ng fing.ers” record, the game parks are indeed doo.med. He started with the reserve forests then looting animals in game parks now lungu long fingers and his gang want to loot whole game parks……
The final nail in Zambias wild life will be when the Chinese start bri.bing lungu in Ernest to get at the game parks.
Right now it is the white conservationists and lodge owners keeping the Chinese at bay…….
I dont know if lungu long fingers knows anything about the importance of trees and forests…..
Please go ahead and mine sustainably we need jobs and development