Tourism and Arts Minister Ronald Chitotela says mining cannot take place in the Lower Zambezi National Park because there is no report allowing such a process in the park.
Mr. Chitotela said Zambezi Resources of Australia has to date not made any application for the Kangaluwi copper mining project to take in the National park.
The Tourism Minister said there is no report by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency on mining in the National Park as the report granted by ZEMA allowing the company to operate for only three years expired in 2017.
Mr. Chitotela said there is, therefore, no need to protest by Zambians over the matter as there is currently no mining taking place in the area and does not see it happening.
He told a media briefing that the ZEMA report issued in 2014 allowed the company to operate only for three years after the appeal by the then Lands and Natural Resources Minister Harry Kalaba no longer exists.
Mr. Chitotela has challenged the company to go back to the people and submit a new report which will determine the way forward but doubted the possibility of having the permit granted by his Ministry to allow mining in the Lower Zambezi National park.
Speaking at the same media briefing, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Richard Musukwa confirmed that Mr. Kalaba overturned the decision of the ZEMA Board rejecting the application by the mining company to commence mining in the Lower Zambezi National park.
Mr. Musukwa clarified that the decision to overturn the Zambia Institute of Environmental Management (ZIEM) report of 2011 rejecting the opening of the proposed mining project in the Lower Zambezi was not done by cabinet as claimed by Mr. Kalaba but was anchored within his Authority as a Minister.
He said that this, however, was not wrong as it was within his mandate. Mr. Musukwa said Mr. Kalaba acted within the confines of the law as Minister, to reject the ZIEM report.
He stated that the then Minister used his ministerial authority adding that nothing was illegal with the decision reached by Mr Kalaba to overturn the ZIEM report.
Mr. Musukwa also said that the tourism factor in the Lower Zambezi National park outplays the mining aspect as the low-grade copper can only be mined for a period ranging from 5 to 7 years.
Meanwhile, Mr. Musukwa said contrary to reports in the media, the license issued to the company was not for mining but exploration and was issued in 2002 and not in 2014.
He, however, said that the government has a final position on the matter which will be communicated in a joint statement to be issued by the Ministries of Tourism and Mines in Parliament tomorrow.
Quit stalling!
There needs to be a decisive NO justified by the needs for sustainable tourism. We can’t have a Mining/exploration agenda in a tourism sensitive area and an area housing wildlife. It’s a great contradiction.
There is no need for the government to mull over this matter and the permission granted and rejected by Kalaba should stand at REJECTION.
Reporting yamu Zed is appalling. How can you follow an event if you are not an eyewitness and you have only reporters who write like this: He told a media briefing that the ZEMA report issued in 2014 allowed the company to operate only for three years after the appeal by the then Lands and Natural Resources Minister Harry Kalaba no longer exists.
Zambia the real Africa…This issue shouldn’t even be on the table……how do you destroy God given natural resources….destroying nature….PF bandits are clueless…Sata knew before he died that he had left a bunch of morons masquerading as Politicians….PF bandits shouldn’t continue beyond 2021 or else Zambia will cease to exist
Rewind 2019 UNGA….African President (Lungu)steps to the podium….every sane person heads for the exit door….at the end its empty auditorium with Kaizer,Mumbi and Sikazwe remaining….now its making a lot of sense why Lungu was addressing empty chairs
CHItole you were not a cabinet minister when mine was approved, you were just a dirty-looking deputy thing by-then.
Kalaba said mine approval was confidential.
CHI please focus on returning the stolen black Letchews.
These PooFs, their illegible presidential candidate said he is waiting for citizens to conclude discussion on Cabinet approved mine in the National Park.
Wonder why these ministers don’t obey orders from their almighty.
Good job! Let’s roll! HAZALUZA HAGAIN! Because HE IS UNELECTABLE and CHILDISH.
There you are folks.
There is a high court ruling and now Government position.
Faka pressure.
THIS IS SUCH A FOOLISH DECISION OUR COUNTRY IS HAVING PROBLEMS OF MAKING MONEY LOOK AT SOTH AFRICA IT HAS MORE MONEY BECUSE IT HAS A LOT OF COMANIES AND MINES RUNING, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE JOBS IF THEY ARE BEHAVING LIKE THIS THIS ARE JUST ANIMALS THERE A LOT OF RIVERS AND FORESTS IN ZAMBIA WERE THE GOVERNMENT CAN RELOCATE OR TRANSFER THE ANIMALS TO LIVE IN ANOTHER PLACE UNLIKE THE MINE THAT CANT BE MOVED AM SO DISAPPOINTED AT THE FOOLISH DECISION THAT HAS BEEN MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT YET THEY SAY THEY ARE EDUCATED WITH HIGH DECORATED DEGREES SO WHY CANT THOSE DEGREES OF THERE THINK IN THIS WAY IN THE HEADS OR SKILLS THAT THEY HAVE LEARNT OF. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO MINES EMPLOYEE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THE GOVERNMENT STOPPING FROM FINDING WORK BECAUSE OF THIS DECISION THAT THEY ARE MAKING.
sorry for the typing mistake i meant to type ……… SOUTH AFRICA ……….
You should never reproduce with that myopic mind.
But the license that was issued by the Ministry a few weeks back… Is it now supposed to be fake news? Yes or no, not stating positions
pressure got to these thieving m*ther f*ckers in the end, these thieving lot a a real embarrassment , including the scatter teeth worst president in the world… the thieving lawyer wanna be
P.F, KUWAYAWA CHABE’!!
The whole P.F machinery will never tell the truth, just like J0n@’s declaration of getting rid of Cadres from public places.
Bufi, bufi, bufi!!
THE BIGGEST CADRES IN ZAMBIA TODAY ARE KAIZER, & CHIMPYONGO. Is J0n@ gonna rid Zambia of these 2 Violent Cancerous parasites?
The whole cabinet was involved in the final decision. Kalaba should not be blamed.
Chipante Pante everyday.
So this is the country that is headed for nuclear power, ka? Awe neo sinibwelelako uko kwanu mwe. Ministers can overrule professional and expert advice and even stand by it mweo!? Neo ku dabwa ngako.
Balimugaika 10 wala Harry. It wasn’t even a cabinet decision. He is the one who wrote that letter to cabinet. Yet he wants to turn and call his friends corrupt. What useless opposition we have.
WAS BUSHIRI LURKING IN THE SHADOWS?
As minister they can overturn professional advise what more if they be president ?
Socialist President to expose and cage these cronies vying for presidency permit to continue loot mother Zambia.2021 is for marginalized to take over power under socialist party umbrella
“Mr Musukwa also said that the tourism factor in the Lower Zambezi National Park outplays the mining aspect as the low grade copper can only be mined for a period ranging from 5 to 7 years.”
So Mr Kalaba overruled the ZEMA report for low grade copper to be mined for a maximum period of 7 years? It’s mind boggling.
And what about the animals, we have not head any good news apart from the harassment of whistleblowers ? The minister was there and no one surly would ask him about the animals, we need to hear him to give us the much needed information.
I don’t know what the hullabaloo is all about. Hon Musukwa has spoken and he is one of the very few credible Cabinet Ministers that we have. Many of them are cabinet (closet) ministers.
In any case His Excellency told you last week that government will take decisive action in favour of the people. In other words HE issued a directive.
Kalaba??
So, how exactly is HH involved in all this? Can Makebi Zulu and PF explain? Or maybe all those smears were lies???
That’s a relief for now let’s hope this matter has now been put to rest forever!