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The United National Independence Party (UNIP) has urged President Hakainde Hichilema to cancel the controversial mining license by Mwembeshi Resources in the Lower Zambezi.
UNIP President Trevor Mwamba said the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment should reverse the decision to give a go ahead with mining on Lower Zambezi.
“ZEMA and the Ministry of Green Economy should cancel the mining license immediately in accordance with their prudent earlier decisions before the waters were muddied by “…the unpleasant and unacceptable face of capitalism…” Mwamba said.
He accused Mwembeshi Resources Limited of breaching a process where Conservation Advocates Zambia Limited, till awaits an official response from the ZEMA board regarding their request to review the decision to approve the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) addendum.
He said in a statement on Saturday that if ZEMA should dilly dally, UNIP the oldest and former ruling party would support the countrywide demonstrations.
“This is where the power vested in the Zambian people is now being tested. UNIP under my leadership supports country wide demonstrations calling upon the new dawn government to rescind its decision to allow Zambezi Resources from mining in Lower Zambezi National Park,” Mwamba said.
He said President Hichilema opposed mining in Lower Zambezi while in opposition but wondered why his government had given a go ahead to mining in Lower Zambezi.
“Zambians should now know that if our efforts fail in protecting the Lower Zambezi National Park, the buck stops with President Hichilema who unequivocally said to the Zambian people in 2014 that, “lower Zambezi stays untouched!” And so, it shall be!” Mwamba said.
He said Zambians should begin to realise that not every resource God gave us needed to be exploited especially when the environment is endangered as is the case in Lower Zambezi.
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