By OLIVER SAMBOKO
CHIEF Chundu of Zimbabwe has insisted that the proposed copper mine in the Zambezi lower national park should not go ahead as doing so will lead to the damage of the ecosystem.
The traditional leader said considering the significance in the economic, environmental and social development of the region, sustainable management of the Zambezi Basin is crucial in securing the livelihood of communities along the basin.
He said allowing commercial mining in the park will also disturb the animal corridor that extend to Mona pools, the World Heritage site, situated on the Zimbabwean side of the lower Zambezi River.
Chief Chundu said proponents of the proposed Kangaluwi copper mining project in Lower Zambezi by Mwembeshi Resources Limited, should remember that the Lower Zambezi National Park provides refuge to globally threatened wildlife species such as elephants and wild dogs.
He said the Mining project, if allowed to go ahead, will also pose a severe threat to the communities within the region as well as downstream where the risk of contamination of water is more likely to occur.
The traditional leader said this would impact the communities in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and the whole Zambezi delta, potentially destroying farming, fishing livelihoods and the tourism sector in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The traditional leader said the Zambezi basin, whose main flow is the Zambezi River, is one of Africa’s most important river basins and therefore should be protected from any negative activities.
He said the Zambezi Basin is an important shared asset that does not only benefit Zambia and Zimbabwe tourism sectors but also benefits Angola, Botswana, Tanzania, Namibia, Malawi and Mozambique directly supporting the livelihoods of over 47 million people.
