By NATION REPORTER
CHIEFTAINESS Serenje of the Lala people of Serenje District, Central Province, has lambasted manganese processing plants using dry cassava in place of coal as a source of energy to process manganese ore.
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Chieftainess Serenje said the Manganese plants have been buying large tonnages of cassava at criminally low prices after promising to pay better perks, thereby taking advantage of the vulnerable cassava farmers in her chiefdom.
Chieftainess Serenje said as a result of cheaply bulk buying of cassava, hunger had hit her Chiefdom because her subjects had sold out cassava meant for household consumption.
This came to light at a Traditional Leaders Caucus in Serenje District, Central Province, organised by Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ), which is implementing a Resilient Initiatives for Sustainable Environment (RISE) Project, supported by Bread for the World (BFTW) Germany.
“Cassava issue plus poor salaries in processing plants is wreaking havoc in my Chiefdom. I have since recorded rising suicide cases because of mistreatment by investors. They are humble when coming but very harsh after investing. If we knew earlier, we would have rejected their proposals to invest in our Chiefdoms,” she said.
But Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) Board Member Emmanuel Mutamba said Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) only allowed processing plants to use coal from Sinazongwe District, Central Province.
And Serenje District Commissioner Paul Masuwa said Government wings would investigate the matter to ensure compliance to set operational standards.
“Let us work together. Do not hide information but bring it to me as your Servant and a Representative of the President in Serenje. We have relevant wings of Government to sort out such things and some can be arrested,” he said.
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