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An estimated 279 households in Mwanaute, Kamisengo and Lwamizambo communities of Kalumbila District, North-Western Province, are slated for displacement to facilitate the expansion of Lumwana Copper Mine.
While the expansion project aims to elevate Lumwana Mine to a leading global copper producer, concerns about the impact on local communities and their environment have been raised.
In a joint statement issued in Lusaka on Friday, the Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) and Zambia Land Alliance (ZLA) revealed that a recent fact-finding mission highlighted anxieties among affected communities regarding the proposed compensation by Lumwana Copper Mine.
CTPD and ZLA expressed believe the compensation was insufficient to address the consequences of displacement on livelihoods and the surrounding environment.
Commenting on this development, CTPD Executive Director, Isaac Mwaipopo, noted concerns about inconsistencies in the resettlement action plan.
Mwaipopo stated that while some households were being engaged individually, others with multiple landholdings face the prospect of merged compensation, potentially jeopardizing their land rights.
“We acknowledge the mining sector’s contribution to Zambia’s economic development and global climate action,” Mwaipopo said.
He stated the need to balance the growth of the mining sector with the well-being and safety of local communities.
“However, it is crucial that the mine’s expansion adheres to national and international legal standards, ensuring the protection of affected communities’ rights and interests,” Mwaipopo stated.
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Patrick Musole, Executive Director of ZLA, urged affected people to carefully read and understand the resettlement action plan agreement before signing.
Musole stated that this would help address any future concerns if their rights and interests were not fully met.
“I also want to urge the Mining Company to ensure that the agreements are translated into a language the affected communities can read and understand to ensure that people understand what they are signing for,” he advised.
Musole assured that CTPD and ZLA were committed to supporting the communities while engaging the government and the Mining Company.
He said this was to ensure that the displaced communities were adequately compensated so that their standard of living was better than before their lives were interrupted by the displacement.
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