ZAMBIA NOT BENEFITTING FROM ITS OWN MANGANSE MINING

GOVERNMENT HAS ADMITTED THAT THE COUNTRY IS NOT BENEFITTING ANYTHING FROM THE MINING OF MANGANESE IN THE COUNTRY ESPECIALLY IN AREAS SUCH AS LUAPULA PROVINCE BECAUSE THERE IS NO VALUE ADDITION TO THE RAW MATERIAL.

MINES AND MINERAL DEVELOPMENT SAFETY DIRECTOR MOOYA LUMAMBA SAYS MUCH OF THE MANGANESE WHICH IS BEING MINED BY THE FOREIGN INVESTORS IS BEING SHIPPED OUTSIDE, LEAVING THE COUNTRY WITH NOTHING.

MR. LUMAMBA WHO WAS SPEAKING DURING A PRESENTATION AT  THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION FOR TRADITIONAL LEADERS IN LUSAKA TODAY, STATED THAT THE DEMAND FOR MANGANESE HAS GROWN HENCE THE  NEED TO DEVISE WAYS UPON WHICH  THE COUNTRY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE RAW MATERIAL.

HE POINTED  OUT THAT MINING OPERATIONS OF VARIOUS RAW MATERIALS ARE GROWING AT A FASTER RATE AND THEIR  ACTIVITIES SHOULD HAVE SOCIAL IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY ARE TAKING PLACE.

MEANWHILE MR. LUMAMBA EXPLAINED THAT ALL MINING COMPANIES WHICH FLOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACT THROUGH THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS POLLUTION RISK HAVING THEIR LICENSES REVOKED OR SUSPENDED.

MEANWHILE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION FOR TRADITIONAL LEADERS ORGANIZERS, SOUTHERN AFRICA RESOURCES WATCH DIRECTOR CLAUDE KABEMBA NOTED THAT DESPITE THE NATION BEING RICH IN MINERALS, IT HAS CONTINUED TO BE AMONGST POOR NATIONS.

MR. KABEMBA STRESSED THAT THERE IS NEED TO EMPOWER THE CITIZENS SO THAT THEY CAN WATCH OVER THEIR RESOURCES AND NOT LET IT ALL GO TO THE HANDS OF THE INVESTORS.

published by augustine