Mining: Environment watchdog, CBE, decries absence of access to information law

Community for Better Environment (CBE) has said lack of access to information law would continue to deprive citizens of critical information regarding mine development agreements.

CBE is an organization dedicated to developing, promoting and implementing sustainable environmental and economic policies in Zambia and beyond.

Director-Social and Economic Research, Mweene Himwiinga, said in an interview on Friday with Zambia Monitor that there was a need to push for access to information law for citizens to be aware about what was contained in the mining contracts with the government.

“It is difficult to figure out what is contained in the deal between the government and Vedanta Resources Limited on how Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) will run because we do not have access to information law,” Himwiinga said.

She said it was difficult for citizens to access information when it comes to mining and mining contracts.

“There is no compelling reason for the people to know contracts that the government enters into with mining investors. We are the ones that gets affected, because there is no open access to information,” she said.

Zambia Monitor reported that Mines and Mineral Development Minister, Paul Kabuswe, announced in Lusaka on Tuesday the handing over of KCM to Vedanta.

Kabuswe indicated that Vedanta pledged to invest US$1 billion in mine development in the next five years, pay local suppliers US$250 million, K2,500 to each employee one-off and a 20 percent salary hike across the board.

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