BY SHARON ZULU
GOVERNMENT has no intentions of closing mining companies but is only expecting them to comply with the laws and regulations governing the mining sector in the country, Green Economy and Environment Minister Collins Nzovu has said.
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Mr Nzovu, his Permanent Secretary Dr Douty Chibamba and officials from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) were in Sinazongwe District, Southern Province over the weekend to inspect mining companies in the area following complaints of pollution, cracks of dwelling houses due to blasting, water contamination and for operating without approval among others issues.
Mr Nzovu and the team visited Collum Coal Mine, Maamba Collieries Coal Mine, Seizic Mining Limited and African Power Coal.
During the inspections, some companies were found to be compliant to environmental and safety requirements while some were found to be non-compliant, prompting Mr Nzovu raise caution against unsafe mining methods, poor management of waste water and lack of dust suppression mechanisms.
Mr Nzovu said some mining companies had not fully compensated the people living in the licensed areas and urged them to compensate them.
He said there was need for mining companies and other companies that intend to invest in the country to go to ZEMA, get the Environmental Management Act and other environmental orders and acquaint themselves with Zambia’s las on mining.
Mr Nzovu said the government was interested in expansion of the mining sector but not at the expense of human health and the environment.
“And mining companies need to undertake social corporate responsibility in the areas they are operating,” Mr Nzovu said.
And senior headman Siamududule from Mweemba Chiefdom complained about the dust and the contaminated water which had a huge effect on the school going children.
The traditional leader urged the mining companies to drill boreholes so that the people and animals stop drinking the contaminated water.
ZEMA Acting Director Operations Christopher Kanema indicated that agency would continue to monitor the compliance of all mining companies and directed all mining companies in Sinazongwe District to comply immediately with the requirements of the Environmental Management Act and conditions of approval.
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