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By MUBITA KATETE
THE Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has approved 321 development projects of national interest after clearing a backlog of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports that had accumulated over the past three months.
The approvals follow the appointment of ZEMA’s sixth Board of Directors on December 8, 2025. During its inaugural sittings held from December 9 to 12, the Board considered 325 projects, rejecting only four for failing to meet the requirements of the Environmental Management Act.
In a statement issued yesterday, Ruth Kanyanga Kamwi, ZEMA Manager for Corporate Affairs said the development marks a major milestone in restoring efficiency to the country’s environmental approval process.
“The Board considered a total of 325 development projects that had accumulated over the past three months due to the absence of a Board, and 321 of these were approved,” she said.
“This represents a significant step in ensuring timely decision-making while safeguarding environmental sustainability.”
The approved projects cut across key sectors of the economy, with a strong focus on energy, infrastructure, and mining. Among the notable approvals are solar power generation projects with a combined capacity of 898 megawatts to be developed across 10 districts.
Other major projects given the green light include the rehabilitation of the Tanzania–Zambia Railway Line from Kapiri Mposhi to Nakonde by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (Zambia) Limited, the construction of 148 telecommunications towers countrywide, and the construction of three dams in Eastern Province by the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation.
By sector, the Board considered 111 mining and mineral processing projects, 65 energy projects, 107 infrastructure development projects, 33 manufacturing and processing projects, seven agriculture and forestry projects, and two tourism projects.
Ms Kamwi said the four projects that were rejected failed to comply with environmental requirements as provided for under the Environmental Management Act.
