The Luangwa Establishment has backed calls for mining to proceed in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
Establishment Chairperson Joseph Felemenga said the people of Luangwa feel it is justified to go ahead with mining in the area because of animal-human conflict as people are frequently attacked and killed by elephants and crocodiles as well as the high poverty levels.
Addressing the media in Lusaka, Mr Felemanga said the Luangwa Establishment feels that when Mwembeshi Resources is allowed to go ahead and start copper mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park through its Kangaluwi project, poverty levels and wild animals’ attacks on people will also reduce.
Mr. Felemenga said the people against mining in the area are ignorant about the mineral resource in the area.
He has insisted that mining will have no affect on the wildlife as mining will be undertaken 50 kilometres away from the game reserves.
Mr Felemanga who was flanked by other members of the Luangwa Establishment have since asked the Zambia Environmental Management Agency who rejected mining in the area to go ahead and provide relevant documentation to allow the Kangaluwi Copper Mining Project to go ahead in respect of the high court ruling for mining to go ahead recently.
Meanwhile, two traditional leaders in Luangwa district of Lusaka Province have insisted that they want mining to continue in Lower Zambezi National Park.
The two Chiefs Namely Senior Chief Mbuluma of the Nsenga-Luzi people and Chief Mphunka of the Chikunda speaking people both of Luangwa district are of the view that mining in the area if allowed to continue will bring economic development.
The two traditional leaders have however challenged government to state its position on the matter as they feel that the Ministers are not being sincere.
The duo said this on Thursday when Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo held a meeting with them at the Luangwa district administration.
And responding to the traditional leaders, Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo has assured the two traditional leaders that he will engage the Minister of Mines and Minister of Tourism for a further discussion on the matter.
WHAT HAS LUANGWA GOT TO DO WITH THE ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK ?? HOW MUCH HAVE YOU BEEN PAID AND WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN PROMISED IF THE MINE GOES AHEAD ?? YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT FUTURE GENERATIONS. YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT. YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT ANIMALS. AGAIN I ASK HOW MUCH HAVE YOU BEEN PAID ??????? HOW MANY SHARES WILL THE MINE GIVE YOU FOR MAKING THESE STATEMENTS ?
More greedy clowns who have been bribed to speak rubbish.
I said already, PF will act very slyly. They want this to go ahead despite the protests of most citizens including senior citizens like KK. They are willing to let the waters settle and then proceed silently. Same as they have done im forest reserve in Lusaka.
Corruption everywere in government institutions. What’s next for sale? State house? ZAF city airport? Great east road? PF Bandits everywhere in government institutions. $8 billion ghost works salaries in 6yrs In government institutions. Why can’t you start investigating
I honestly see no purpose of having chiefs these days ……………………..We have a government to govern us then why keep these useless uneducated leaders called chiefs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just look at the way they decide………..Yake !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So annoying.
Professional advise from ZEMA stands. No amountvof Government, Council or Traditional leadership should be allowed to overrule professional advise from an Agency’s advice.
I can see politics at play or dark hands pushing this mining agenda.
We have enough mines already to showcase massive economic contribution to Government coffers. Let leave new mining activities in new locations for posterity. You can’t mine everything today.
Let’s imagine we have gold under State House .
I do forgive the chiefs. They don’t know wht more enlightened citizens know. They think big holes in the ground, piles of gravel heaped high, smell of hydrocarbons, polluted water and air amounts to development. Poor souls.
These are the witches that used to sell fellow humans during slavery….very dull morooons..2019 and you still want to allow bazungu to come and steal and destroy our natural resources….Zambians wake up and get rid of Lungu and his entire PF bandit cadres and they should be sent to Jail in 2021
The good news is that Zambians have spoken with one voice on this matter.
Lower Zambezi belongs to all Zambians, not just these skinny hungry-looking old chiefs.
This is silly, Mining will not improve the poverty levels, they have tourism in Luangwa if we can improve that and people would be ok. This is the Same Stupidity of the PF. Say No to this and instead upgrade Mfuwe Airport to Improve Tourism. Can’t we see that Kenya’s economy is based on tourism than mines? Zambia has more Animals and can do better.
Somebody is promising them some change! What a people! Zambia must flush out lobbyists who support foreign interests at the expense of Zambia. That is why UNDER FIVE is a danger to Zambia.
These chiefs do not even understand animal behaviour. First of all, they encroanched in animal territoy, secondl,y they think 50 Kilometers is a long distance for animals.
The economic benefits they preceive are there even now when its a game park. Its just the sharing that is missing and they should focus on that. a game reserve is perpertual for many generation until kingdom comes. Mining will be for but a short number of years and will close. The environment would be damaged for ever.
When they start speaking like this, just know that brown envelopes are at play. The visitor may have coached them on what to say.
Most of our traditional leaders are greedy/selfish. It’s obvious that the two chiefs have been promised heaven on Earth when the mine opens. Unfortunately, it will only be the chiefs and relatives benefiting while their subordinates will continue fighting for left overs, if any..!!
These don’t look like chiefs! They look very poor! Poverty will kill us! Anyway the one to blame in this thing is our kateka! He is not providing the leadership needed in these matters! We cannot rely on the “wisdom” of poverty stricken chiefs! Mining is for a limited time and will in no way solve the poverty in those chiefdoms! What GRZ has not told us is how much Copper is there and what the estimated life of mine (LOM) is! Wisdom tells me that no matter how long the life of mine is, you cannot compare long term earnings from Tourism compared to mining! It’s a classical case of Lower Primates relate with Bananas and money!
The question is can animals override the value of minerals?
Which one is important here?
Who is interested in minerals?
Personally I would go for the keeping game park intact.
Our healthy lives ,a clean intact environment and our priceless game reserves over profits for a few greedy individuals.
Feed them to the lions or crocodiles full stop!
Fools no mining there leave the animals alone.
Something fishy is going on behind the scenes it seems. Of all people, what is Lusambo doing in Luangwa? Did he go to deliver some brown envelopes to rally the chiefs to plead for mining? Who is driving this agenda of mining in the national park apart from PF leaders who issued the mining license in the first place? Maybe the recipient of the mining license is contemplating legal action and these guys have developed cold feet and seem determined to get another route around this shameful sacrilegious act! The knowledge of the presence of minerals in that game reserve is not a new thing! Ask KK! You can’t put mines everywhere!
In a democracy, everyone’s view must be respected. These are the indigenous people of the area. Their voice matters. It’s only prudent that a public forum be created with all stakeholders involved being present, and a common consensus be reached. This is a non partisan matter but a national one. Sobriety, reason, professionalism are cardinal.
Lusambo went to deliver brown envelopes to chiefs . these chiefs didn’t say this from deep down their hearts. Lusambo used them to say
Who the eff are they? That’s a national resource and decision is to be made by the zambian people through their representatives in parliament
Too many contradictions among the chiefs. One group of chiefs claims there no animals left in the park, so mining should be allowed. One group claims that the Kangaluwi project should be allowed to reduce wild animals’ attacks on people. The other camp claims animals are 50 km away! How can people be attacked by animals that are non-existent? Or indeed, how can people be attacked by animals that are 50 km away? In Bemba there is a saying that akanwa kamilandu kalaisosela. This is the case. Bowman should have been candid and tell these chiefs that the chapter on mining in the park is closed!
Imwe guys I told you there was something curious in Kalaba’s statement regarding the overriding of the ZEMA recommendations. Si apa manje mwazionela? The same people saying there will be no mining are now kneeling to facilitate same mining… wanadya ndalama a mambala so they have no other way but to allow mining in the LOWER ZAMBEZI. Good luck!
Use—les chiefs.We don’t need such an educated chiefs to be on throne.What a waste of reosurces of having such chiefs.They don’t think about the future but just money even when mulikote.Africa nisebana wikute.Kalaba is very use-lessss.How can you alllow a mining?Poor Judgemnet from the person i thought would deliver Zambia.He too is corrupt.Ataseeee baneeeeeeeee
Ok iyee naikosa. pantu! how many of us have being to Lower Zambezi National park for game viewing? am sure its 0.0000005% of the Lusaka population. due to exobitant fees/charges by those baZungu! who peg their prices in dollars. One small tent per night/ US$120 to US$250. which ordinary Zambian can manage this? Now if they open the Mine with good environmental safeguards. alot of people will be able to afford and go to the NP as day trippers. we can model it on the krugger national park? lets not demonise the chiefs. they stay with their subjects and they the poverty.
@ 1 point of correction sir, lower Zambezi stretches through to Luangwa, in fact the bigger part is in Luangwa, hence the two chiefs being involved.
We are talking of Luangwa town (Feira) at the confluence of the Luangwa and Zambezi rivers above Cabora Bassa, not South Luangwa National Park. That area currently gets no benefit from the national park, so the chiefs have concerns which should be addressed not just shouting apa @ #1
Well, Chiefs Mupuka and Mbunema: What about the agreement of 18 October 2008???
******
SAVE THE ZAMBEZI
ITS PEOPLE, WILDLIFE AND NATURAL HERITAGE ARE UNDER GREAT AND
IMMINENT THREAT FROM AUSTRALIAN MINING COMPANIES SEEKING TO
MINE URANIUM, COPPER AND GOLD ON THE SHORES OF THE TRIBUTARIES
OF OUR MAGNIFICENT RIVER AND LAKE KARIBA.
17 GREAT CHIEFDOMS OF THE ZAMBEZI BASIN FROM ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE, AND MOZAMBIQUE
HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO CALL FOR SUPPORT FROM THEIR GOVERNMENTS, SADAC AND THE
GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO PRESERVE THE LAKE AND RIVER THAT ARE THE LIFE LINE TO NEARLY ONE
MILLION PEOPLE.
Proposed projects by Zambezi Resources, Albidon Mining, Glencoe Mining, Rio Tinto Zinc, Omega and African
Resources threaten our very…
SAVE THE ZAMBEZI
ITS PEOPLE, WILDLIFE AND NATURAL HERITAGE ARE UNDER GREAT AND
IMMINENT THREAT FROM AUSTRALIAN MINING COMPANIES SEEKING TO
MINE URANIUM, COPPER AND GOLD ON THE SHORES OF THE TRIBUTARIES
OF OUR MAGNIFICENT RIVER AND LAKE KARIBA.
17 GREAT CHIEFDOMS OF THE ZAMBEZI BASIN FROM ZAMBIA, ZIMBABWE, AND MOZAMBIQUE
HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO CALL FOR SUPPORT FROM THEIR GOVERNMENTS, SADAC AND THE
GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO PRESERVE THE LAKE AND RIVER THAT ARE THE LIFE LINE TO NEARLY ONE
MILLION PEOPLE.
Proposed projects by Zambezi Resources, Albidon Mining, Glencoe Mining, Rio Tinto Zinc, Omega and African
Resources threaten our very existence and traditional way of life. Should they succeed in their efforts to
develop uranium mines on our great water sources, this could result in…
A drive from Luangwa Great East Road Market to Luangwa (Feira) passes through Chief Mbuluma’s area, Katondwe Mission, Rufunsa Bridge, a Mopane woodland part of which is a permanent elephant trail, Luangwa Secondary School, Chief Mphuka’s area and finally Luangwa Boma. Yet villages clustered along the road DO NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF AGRICULTURE. One hardly sees mango trees whose fruits can cushion food shortages in Luangwa District during Nov.-Dec. Nsenga-Luzis and Chikundas must learn good culture of agriculture from the people of Nyimba and Petauke. People of Feira will NEVER be shareholders of the Mining Company they are promoting – in their state of IGNORANCE.
Better to keep our animals than to destroy nature don’t start digging again we have more digging and it hasn’t benefited Zambians, the mines don’t mean much for the nation all you hear are problems time and again please give us a break let us talk about other business ventures than mining .
The so called establishment have no appreciation of the consequences of the mine long term effects of the mine on the people, flora and fuana of the Lower Zambezi. They are the custodians of the heritage of their areas but exhibit ignorance of ramifications of the mine in the park. They should be exploring sustainable ways the natural resources can benefit their kingdoms that the paltry coins given to them under the table to sale their heritage. Shame on these clowns!!! This mine should never go ahead. ZEMA ought to stand their ground, given the negative environmental Impact Assessment on the area and beyond.
Minerals in the National Animal home?? What next. Minerals under lake Mweru, Kariba and Bangweulu. Dry up the three lakes so that the Governent can do the mining. Very exciting and amazing. In Zambia anything is possible. Lungu and Lusamba think they are very clever that they can even walk on water
Where is proof that indicates there are minerals in the game reserve???