TI-Z to vociferously oppose mining in Lower Zambezi, other protected areas
By Fanny Kalonda (The Mast)
TRANSPARENCY International Zambia has expressed concern that government has decided to approve large scale exploration licences in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
TI-Z executive director Maurice Nyambe said it is concerning to learn that the Mining Licensing Committee had made a decision to grant two large scale exploration licences in September 2024 in the Lower Zambezi National Park “barely a year after the decision to cancel the previous environmental approval for another mining project”.
“As published on the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development website, the Mining Licensing Committee approved two large-scale exploration licences, namely licences 38439-HQ-LEL and 38572-HQ-LEL located in the Lower Zambezi National Park,” he said.
“TI-Z expresses extreme concern with the Zambian government’s decision to approve large scale exploration licences in the Lower Zambezi National Park. As the public may recall, several environmental defenders, activists and civil society actors spoke out against the previous administration’s decision to grant a mining licence and environmental approval for a mining project in the Lower Zambezi National Park in 2014. It was only after much advocacy and engagement with the relevant government institutions and stakeholders that last year the current administration cancelled the proposed large-scale mining project that was designated in the Lower Zambezi National Park, a decision that was lauded by many environmental defenders, activists and concerned civil society actors including TI-Z.”
Nyambe noted that prospects of mining in other protected areas remain an issue.
“We are alive to the fact that presently there is neither a law nor regulation that expressly bars mining in protected areas such as forest reserves, game reserves and national parks. The current mines and Minerals Development Act 2015 that provides for the application and granting of mining rights and licences, outlines provisions on mining and exploration in environmentally protected and sensitive areas, with required conditions attached to mining rights and licences including obtaining permission to exercise that mining right with the relevant government institutions and or agencies. Among the key requirements is the environmental approval through an Environmental Project Brief and Environmental Impact Statement submitted to Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), in addition to approval from other public institutions such as the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPWL) in this case,” he said. “Learning from the previous public outcry and environmental demerits of the previous proposed mining project, TI-Z had assumed that the issue pertaining to mining in Lower Zambezi National Park was a settled matter, and it is disheartening to see the current administration resurrect the issue and do the exact same thing for which the previous administration was condemned. TI-Z also notes that prospects of mining in other protected areas remain an issue, with the Lower Zambezi being one of the most contentious preproposals in recent years.”
Nyambe added that there is need to ensure regulations that ensure protection and aversion of exploration and mining in ecologically and environmentally sensitive areas are aligned with the administration’s aspiration to espouse development that prioritises environmental sustainability.
“Given this new development, TI-Z will continue to monitor developments with regards to these approvals and will collaborate with other concerned stakeholders to vociferously oppose this and similar decisions relating to mining activities in protected areas. TI-Z’s position remains that explorations and mining licensing and approvals, in addition to being conducted transparently, should not be approved or permitted to occur in protected areas such as national parks and forest reserves,” said Nyambe. “We also reiterate our earlier recommendations on this that regulations that ensure protection and aversion of exploration and mining in ecologically and environmentally sensitive areas be aligned with the administration’s aspiration to espouse development that prioritises environmental sustainability and a green economy. We urge the current administration not to turn a blind eye to this important issue.”