Kalaba clarifies position on Lower Zambezi National Park mining

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MINISTER of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Harry Kalaba
Harry Kalaba

MINISTER of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Harry Kalaba has clarified that the position concerning Kangaluwe copper project in the Lower Zambezi is interpreted by his ministry.
Mr Kalaba said he has a mandate to indicate to the public the Government’s decision on the awarding of the licence to Mwembeshi Resources, a subsidiary of the Zambezi Resources of Australia, for the large-scale mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
This is according to a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday by Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection permanent secretary Inutu Suba.
“My ministry is in charge of, among other things, overseeing the functions of the Zambia Environmental Management Act No.12 of 2012. Consequently, the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) being the body assigned with execution of the provisions of that Act falls within the jurisdiction of my ministry.
“The decision made by ZEMA is subject under that Act, to review referral and supervision by the minister,” he said.
Mr Kalaba said as a minister, his mandate is to state the Government’s position after wide and extensive consultations.
He said it is, therefore, not true for some people to allege that the ministry did not consult before awarding a mining licence to Mwembeshi Resources.
Mr Kalaba said while ministers may hold personal views and express them freely in both private and public, the mandate of his ministry, on this matter, is to stick to Government positions only.

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