Lower Zambezi Threatened by Copper Mining
Written by Mwewa Nchima Enock
Zambia, which is officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa. Within it pours the waters of the mighty Victoria Falls sometimes referred to by its local name ‘Mosi-oa-tunya’ meaning “the smoke that thunders”. It is the greatest curtain of falling water in the world which justifies its place on the list of the Seven Natural Wonders.
The Victoria Falls lies on the Zambezi River. The river’s flow is the lifeblood of Southern Africa as it spans across eight countries namely Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. Without overhyping it, the Zambezi River is the longest river that flows into the Indian Ocean and directly supports the lives of over 47 million people. It is a shared resource of fresh water that never runs dry for household, agriculture, health and industrial use. From it, electricity is generated and fish is farmed to sustain livelihoods.
However, despite the Zambezi River being evidently central to enhancing economic opportunities and securing sustainable livelihoods in Southern Africa, it is undergoing serious threats which have the blessing of the Zambian government. One such threat is the proposed Kangaluwi copper mining project in Lower Zambezi by Mwembeshi Resources Limited. Lower Zambezi’s location is pinned after the great Victoria Falls and is landmarked with the Lower Zambezi National Park. It is in the limits of the unfenced park’s perimeters where the proposed site of the mine is set to lie uphill. This will bring the mine up close to a diverse selection of wildlife such as elephants, buffalo and over 400 bird species.
The Lower Zambezi - Photo Credit: Lower Zambezi National Park
Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), a government institution which is established to act as a referee in managing all spheres of the Zambian environment, stamped the approval for the harmful development in the protected area. This was through an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) issued on the 7th May, 2021 citing the go ahead for the project. Such a decision carries consequences with the potential to disrupt natural ecosystems. Even assuming utmost care in its implementation the risk of contaminating water downstream is overwhelmingly high in the sense that operations will be on higher ground. Predictively this will compromise the health of many people that will tap from the water. It is also expected that fish will die from water pollution through tailing dams effluent that is likely to sip into the pools of water within the Zambezi escarpment. Wildlife that dares to drink from such a source will suffer the same fate. The mere presence of the mine will also cause a decline in fauna populations and flora cover. This is attributed to increased human activities. Directly or indirectly the lives of millions of people will be impacted negatively both socially and economically because most of their income streams rely on fishing and tourism.
The project continues to face backlash from well-meaning individuals across Africa. The public opinion of over 16000 people who have signed the petition to call on the president of the Republic of Zambia to reverse such a decision made by ZEMA seems to be falling on deaf ears. Civil Society Organizations such as ActionAid Zambia have also expressed their concern over the development by highlighting the project's risks on their social media handles. Young people have also joined the fight by sparking a digital campaign to speak against the mine. Clearly the mine does not sit well among many as such it needs to seek new grounds.
One thing for sure is that climate change is non debatable, it is a scientifically proven fact that it can be fueled by emissions of greenhouse gases which the mine will do best. Rabecca Mwambazi, an Environmental Scientist and climate justice advocate had this to say over the project - “ Land, water and air pollution which greatly contribute to the increase of
greenhouse gases will exacerbate the global problem of climate change. I am saying no to mining in the Lower Zambezi.” This was through a statement released on the Climate Change Café Facebook page. She is among many who have openly condemned the proposal. Say no to Zambia’s project to destroy Lower Zambezi, say NO! to mining in National Parks.