Since time in immemorial the country’s environmental agency continues to prove toothless in biting institutions that continue to abrogate the country’s environmental safeguards.
The recent action by a Chinese owned mine in Chingola to continue operations in the cover of the night brings to the fore serious scrutiny of the Zambia Environmental Management Agency-ZEMA-to effectively monitor erring institutions.
It is clear that the closure of China Copper mines has merely been on paper as the said mine has continued with operations as if they were not found wanting.
China Copper Mines Limited was about two weeks ago closed for polluting a water source in Chingola’s Kafisali Village affecting thousands of the inhabitants.
Ironically, this is a clear indication that the agency has no respect for the very people it is supposed to protect after their life support commodity-water-was polluted with impunity.
Wait a minute, whose interest is ZEMA supposed to protect?
The local people or the investors that are causing damage to the wellbeing of various communities. It is clear that ZEMA has no teeth to bite in protecting the very interest of the Zambian people.
According to tests the water was contaminated beyond the normal acceptable levels, no doubt the communities depending on the dam will pay and sadly so some of them will pay the ultimate price-death.
While the investor will go scot free, unless ZEMA tells the country otherwise and things stand, even to expect the affected communities to put up a sustained legal battle seeking compensation will be too much to ask.
For how long will this impunity go on without seeing institutions or individuals causing harm to people and the environment without being punished?
The country’s resources are surely under threat from both the very people that are supposed to protect them for the love of few pieces of gold and silver. The people of these areas have made their case known through protest but nothing concrete is in sight for them.
The Chinese Mining Company polluted a dam in Chingola with toxic material; the dam is a major source of water for residents.
In the insert:Chingola District Commissioner, Philip Kalima addressing Residents of Kafisali in Chongola following a protest after the pollution of their only source of income.
