A consortium of 18 environmental watch groups has expressed shock over government’s move to disregard the protection order issued against First Quantum Minerals over the construction of Chisola dam at Kalumbila Mines.
Recent media reports have indicated that the government, through the Minister of Land, Environment and Natural Resources Wilbur Simuusa has given Kalumbila Mines Limited conditional permission to continue construction of the dam which will cover 200 hectares of woodland.
In May, 2013, ZEMA issued an Environmental Protection Order to First Quantum Minerals who are the proponents of Kalumbila Minerals in order to stop the illegal action by Kalumbila to construct the Chisola dam.Kalumbila Minerals Limited had commenced construction of the Chisola dam without the necessary approvals from ZEMA as required by law.
Following approval of the mine, Kalumbila applied to ZEMA for approval for additional components to their project which included the Chisola dam.
However, concerns were raised regarding authorization of such a vast amount of land and compensation and resettlement issues of the people in the chiefdom that would be affected by the Kalumbila projects.
[pullquote]it is an act of betrayal of the interests of citizens of a sovereign nation by those entrusted with responsibility to maintain law and order and ensure fairness and justice.[/pullquote]
For this reason, ZEMA suspended the process of construction of the proposed Chisola dam and associated projects so that the raised concerns and illegalities could be addressed.
The NGO’s told a media briefing in Lusaka this morning that it is shocking that Mr Simuusa has given permission to Kalumbila Mines to continue working on the project, despite the Protection Order issued by ZEMA.
Speaking on behalf of the consortium, Action Aid Country Director Pamela Chisanga said is unacceptable that government can act arbitrarily over the issue.
Ms. Chisanga said Mr. Simuusa is disregarding a professional institution that is mandated to ensure the protection of the environment and its people.
She charged that it is an act of betrayal of the interests of citizens of a sovereign nation by those entrusted with responsibility to maintain law and order and ensure fairness and justice.
Ms. Chisanga said the NGOs do not understand why government appears to be compromised or is seemingly being held at ransom by Kalumbila Mines.
“We do not understand why this government appears to be compromised or is seemingly being held at ransom by these mining companies. It appears our leaders have not taken the time to understand the mining industry and are therefore not able to effectively engage and negotiate with these mining companies and therefore appear to be negotiating from a point of weakness and are literally begging these companies to ransack our resources at the expense of our people, environment and our country,” she said.
“We fail to understand how authorization can be given for FQM to go ahead with the dam and in the same breath, ask them to demolish it if it is later proved to be environmentally unsustainable. This is a clear indication of lack of wisdom and is tantamount to criminal negligence by our leaders.”
She noted that the work on this dam has already started and has been ongoing even with the Protection Order in place.
“We have photos taken last week where we saw graders clearing the land for the dam. How can anyone expect this land to be reclaimed after such damage?” she queried.
Ms. Chisanga also expressed disappointment with the conduct of FQM who have proceeded with impunity to construct the dam and who have used threats to both government and the chief and people of Musele.
Iwe will put fish no environmental impact.
Another illiterate on the keyboard! Fishes must move upstream and downstream to complete their lifecycles. Dams are often built without fish ladders. When fish ladders are provided, they rarely work as needed. If enough adult fishes do manage to climb above a dam, there remains the issue of their young: how will they get back downstream? .Many are killed in their fall downward through the dam to the river below. They aren’t killed by the fall itself, but by the high levels of nitrogen gas at the base of the dam.
@dollarsilliyah
Sadly appallingly ignorant individuals like yourself who you only read the headline and first sentences in the article are they ones that become our ministers.
dollar u stinking twat.
That area is just the surounded by poor villegers let the dam go ahead people need jobs dont just yap u fools just bcoz u av jobs which environment are u preserving are pipo in developed countries dead coz they have depleted their forests, why Africa be the one to protect the ozone
What kind of illiterates are running the country?Dams are harmful to the environment and building one should not be done just with a hand shake by some political cadre with unscrupulous businessmen.Some things can not be reversed and the effects will be felt for future generations. You affect the life cycles of fish,plants and animals adapted to that area,you affect the integrity of the river,dams do not regulate their temperatures the way free flowing rivers do and this has an adverse effect on ecosystems.And the people that you are removing from the land.Oh PF must you be so disastrous!
It wasn’t PF that built the enormous Kariba dam from where we get a lot of kapenta and not to mention all the electricity in the country (and most of Zimbabwe as well). Why not state some alternatives instead of whining about PF?
This why I was surprised to hear this week that FQM had decided to keep the 500 casual workers….déjà vu…when are Zambian gov’ts going to WAKE UP and stop being blackmailed by foreign investors? Why are these utterly dim politicians meddling in this issue…let the technocrats at ZEMA carry out their assessments. Don’t be surprised if villagers are shot in cold blood in a years time for illegal settlement…why? Because some ignorant politician decided to give “conditional permission” and override environmental assessment by a professional organisation to save the jobs of 500 casual labourers.
*****s pathetic fools playing with nature!
Bakalamba, the dam has to go on. Without the dam no mining will go ahead. 1. The chisola stream passes through a rich deposit of nickel and copper. the only way the mine can go ahead is to make a dam and divert the stream. 2The dam will save as water reservoir for mineral processing. 3The dam will be restocked with fish and the community will definitely benefit out of it. 4In the area were the dam is being constructed, there lives no people, just a handful of cattle graze around. 5. All people that had farm plots near this area have been compensated handsomely. 6Alot of people are getting a living now by the employment of FQM give us alternative jobs then we do away with this mine. 6This chisola stream has no fish in it, so why the worry after all the milk was already spilled by MMD.
Dams are a thing of the past. It has been proven beyond doubt that they lead to a lot of biodiversity loss. Even the IFIs have understood this and have stopped funding such projects and that is when our s.t.u.p.i.d govt. approves such projects even with proper advice from ZEMA (200 ha???). These I.D.I.O.T.S never cease to amaze me with their dull.ness and their greed for rents. Typical of rent-seekers, lets open up mines get rents so we could fund our hefty salaries and allowances (at the cost of our environment and our pple).
We’ll move in with ‘Earth First’… Call ’em Env’tl. Terrorists if you like but they are effective….!
Don’t just talk and talk with out following what is happening. This issue came in cause of surface rights. ZEMA only stopped the dam temporary to pave way for the re aligning of mine boundary and issuance of a fresh surface right. There are no *****s or stupid pipo as u claim.
So what is the “modern” way to provide power for mining? All electricity in Zambia comes from clean hydropower (ever heard of Kariba dam?) What’s the alternative, charcoal-powered thermal powerstations? Some people
PF : Black mailed by street vendors,Mmembee ,Mining firms and electorates.
in sambia, everything is opposed! crap! what a country!
2016! VIVA HH! Ndine waku East, but 2016 yeve ni HH!!!!
Takana BUFI! Takana No Policy Direction!
Takana 2 Deputy Ministers per Ministry!
Takana illegal Chief Justice
Takana Subsidy Removal!
Takana Daily Swearing-In ceremonies!
Takana presido with no Press Conference to give Policy Direction!
etc
2016 !!! HH !!! Viva HH!!!
Can someone give more information whether this dam is a water reservoir or a mine tailings dam?
Banfumu, i Vota card work were the dam is to be constructed. It is a two fold dam. 1. as a reservoir and 2 from the dam water will be diverted back into the main river to to pave way for open cast mine which will be few km down stream. In fact this river is very close to its mouth were it flows into Kabompo river. From its source all along to its mouth, there are no occupants.
What is ZEMA saying about it?Sometimes u just need to look at pipo critisizing. They never agree with anything done or say by pf. Pamela don’t hide in that ngo.U are anti pf thru & thru 4 obvious reasons u know yoself.
However, on dis 1 de right thing must be done. Our enviroment is really in trouble not only in N/ Western P/vince but in 0 of them. I voted pf to come @deal with such issues agressively.C wat is happening 2 ur trees.lt is like it is no man’s bsiness
Can the govt put up vigorously more safe measures of generating energy and not this outdated and evil way of generating it.That’s chacoal burning. Can we 0 b serious and not just de govt otherwise i c doom in the foreseen future nd beyond.Wake up 0!
The opo that’s one of the areas u nid 2 presurise de govt not just critisizing her as tho u were punching in de air. Let’s stop enviromental degradation quickly.Govt must 2 listen 2 some of these that are simple & straight 4ward.l nid to c change.
There is a time to agree & disagree tho it must be on principle.l think i am now having alot to disagree with the govt i have supported since its incerption. The govt needs to be more active especially in areas like this 1.
Investors do not have the country at heart. remember they are in zambia to make profits and leave. So lets be wise and protect our environment. 200 hectors is huge land. 1 hector is 100 meters x 100 meters, now imagine how big this land is. Am not going to allow this crap. Will have a meeting with the minister of lands next week.
ok, so am somewhat lost, how does the dam serve as a reservoir for mineral processing, and at the same time, be stocked with fish?
Most guys dont seem to understand what they are urguing about. You havent been to the place, you dont know the process of setting a mine but just talking. ZEMA suspended the construction to pavê way for other issues to be finalised not because of the enviromental issues some guys are bringing. The dam is not for use to construct a hydro power plant but for the purpose of diverting the stream like it happened on nchanga stream which was passing where the current nchanga open pit is. They mined a tunnel which pass below where the township is almost 2km reconnected to kafue and mining continues. Let those who understand what is happening talk.
yes exactly. walasa yiwe. yichongedwe
The words of Keith Mlevhu’s “Ubuntungwa” song seem so prophetic for whats happening in my beloved country. Listen to the song its a voice of reason from a time long gone.
Why is the Government keeping ZEMA if they can not listen to their professional advice? It makes you wonder..
THESE I.D.O.T.S SHOULD EVEN STOP STARTING PROJECTS NOT BUDGETED FOR, THEY WILL LAND THIS COUNTRY INTO SERIOUS ECONOMIC PROBLEMS! AN I.D.O.T JST WAKES UP AND SAY I WANT 10 UNIVERSITIES TO BE BUILT NEXT MONTH!
ZEMA is a reactionally institution posed by ignorance and lack of foresight. ZEMA refused to approve the dam because of land surface area issues betwn Chief Musele and Kalumbila. the later what more chekelako but KML refused. Then there is this chi fat woman at Ndola office ZEMA. with a 6yrs pregnancy. The lady doesnt read beyond her nose, myopic & always misleading govt. the dam in question is vital for processing copper to an already approved project. if u went to Kalumbila, you will see how well planned settlements are. may be the to masmall 2roomed houses should be expanded. otherwise, the planning is good, roads paved, schools built, clinic, churches and houses for settlers. NGOs plse go to Kalumbila and see for your selves.
Am goin to vist the site.all these enviromental care just came abt bcozi these zema are just jelous bcozi thy can’t get involved in the development of the whole project.they just wanr money: manje mwajama