TOURISM minister Sylvia Masebo opted to discuss the Kangaluwi Mining Project, which the government has allowed to go ahead in the Lower Zambezi, in camera at Parliament because she has not sought President Michael Sata’s permission.
Masebo, who was summoned to appear before the parliamentary committee on lands chaired by Nalikwanda MMD member of parliament Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa to explain why the government had allowed the mine project despite his committee’s objection, noted also that the matter was before the courts.
“Chair, Parliament takes precedence in everything we do; that’s why I have come here. However, allow me permission that I submit in camera because I have not sought the President’s permission over this matter and it’s an issue in court. The President left for Ethiopia just when I was arriving,” Masebo said, to which Prof Lungwangwa agreed and later asked journalists to leave the committee room.
Earlier, before she sought to be heard in camera, Masebo told the committee that Vice-President Dr Guy Scott had called for a meeting between the Ministry of Lands and the Ministry of Tourism to discuss the issue.
Prof Lungwangwa expressed concern as to why the government had gone ahead to allow the mining project when his committee had recommended against it because it would destroy tourism.
“The parliamentary committee travelled to inspect the Lower Zambezi mine area and observed that the only signs that the mine was surveyed were the holes around the place,” he said.
“There were indications of wildlife in the area, so we recommended that there should be no mining activities allowed in the area to proceed.”
Prof Lungwangwa said his committee was surprised later to hear that the office of the Vice-President was looking at the Kangaluwi Mining project in the Lower Zambezi.
“Then a few days later, we heard that mining had been allowed in the area,” Prof Lungwangwa wondered.
He noted that mining had devastating effects on the environment, and that was why his committee disallowed the project.
It was at this point that Masebo chipped in and asked that the issue be discussed in camera, and her request was granted.
Through lands minister Harry Kalaba, the government last month granted Zambezi Resources Limited, an Australian Stock Exchange-listed company, permission to mine for copper in the middle of the pristine Lower Zambezi National Park.
This was despite reservations and the outright rejection of the project by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency.
Zambezi Resources Limited, however, appealed the decision and the result was Kalaba overruling ZEMA.
ZEMA has since allowed the mining company to go ahead with the project but with outlined conditions.
Source: The Post
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