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A Coalition of 53 Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders under the Save Zambezi, Safe Zambezi have disclosed that they will petition the High Court to halt Copper mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
The Coalition is composed of World-Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature, Conservation Advocates Zambia (CAZ), Wildlife Crime Prevention Zambia (WCPZ), Chiawa Chiefdom Youth among others.
Addressing a media briefing on Tuesday in Lusaka, WWF Chief External Engagement and Quality Assurance Officer Fungai Musana said the organization does not support the proposed mining project in the Lower Zambezi as it has potential to affect the ecosystem.
Musana said the Lower Zambezi National Park being an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) category II protected area, should therefore only be used for nature and cultural conservation, scientific studies and tourism purposes.
“In Zambia, we have examples such as the lead poisoning in Kabwe, pollution of the Kafue river on the Copper belt and landscape scaring that is currently taking place in Lochnivar National Park which has displaced wildlife distribution in the mined areas,” he said.
Musana said WWF Zambia believes that allowing the proposed mining project in the Lower Zambezi National Park has a potential for affecting the ecosystems in and around the neighboring countries, that is, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Read More:Cancel mining activities in Lower Zambezi —UNIP urges government
Conservation Advocates Zambia Director and Co-founder Mehluli Malisa highlighted the negative impacts that Copper mining will have on the Park and surrounding areas.
“The pledge to continue fighting for Zambia’s natural resources follows a decision by government to reject an appeal by the Organisation against a ruling by the Zambia Environmental Agency regarding copper mining in the lower Zambezi, Malisa said.
Wildlife Crime Prevention Zambia Communications Officer Luwi Ngulube said sustainable management of the Lower Zambezi is crucial in securing the future of over 250 million people in the broader region that depend on it.
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