CANCELLATION OF MINING IN LOWER ZAMBEZI CHEERS TI-Z

By SHARON ZULU

TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TI-Z) is happy with the nullification of large-scale copper mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA).

ZEMA has cancelled the decision letter issued in 2021 pertaining to the large-scale mining project by Mwembeshi Resource Limited in the Lower Zambezi National Park in Luangwa.

TI-Z executive director, Maurice Nyambe says, Mwembeshi Resource Limited had failed to comply with specific conditions before commencing its large-scale mining in the national park and that it was pleasing that ZEMA was holding companies accountable to environmental regulations.

Mr Nyambe said TI-Z had welcomed ZEMA’s decision considering that, even after Zambezi Resource Limited was found in violation of the decision letter, ZEMA did halt and suspend the mining project through a compliance order.

He said the action by ZEMA had revealed that the mining project had no intentions to honour the commitments stated in its environmental impact assessment.

Mr Nyambe said in view of the development, TI-Z was imploring ZEMA to enhance the monitoring of projects to ensure that mining projects complied with the law and commitments in respective environmental impact assessments reports and decision letters.

“ZEMA’s letter outlining the conditions breached by the mine shows that, the mine was not operating in good faith and in compliance with stipulated standards”, Mr Nyambe said.

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