‘KALABA MISLED CABINET ON LOWER ZAMBEZI’
HARRY Kalaba misled Cabinet and he is to blame for authorising mining activities in the Lower Zambezi National Park, Lands and Natural Resources minister Jean Kapata has said.
Ms Kapata said Mr Kalaba, in his capacity as Lands and Environment minister at the time, initiated the idea of licensing mining in lower Zambezi against the advice of ZEMA.
She said in an interview that Cabinet only approved the licensing because Mr Kalaba was convinced it was the right thing to do.
Ms Kapata advised Mr Kalaba, the former Foreign Affairs minister and Democratic Party president to take the blame for allowing mining activities in the Lower Zambezi National Park and not Cabinet.
She explained that on all matters that were brought before Cabinet for approval, it was the minister responsible that initiated the whole process. Ms Kapata said the minister thoroughly interrogates any idea by his ministry before laying it before Cabinet for approval.
“And in Mr Kalaba’s case, he even ignored advice from ZEMA,” she said.
Mr Kalaba is suggesting that Cabinet be blamed for the decision to grant Zambezi Resources authorization to carry out mining activities in the Lower Zambezi National Park when he presented the idea for approval.
And First republican president Kenneth Kaunda is against mining operations in the lower Zambezi valley as it poses a huge threat on wildlife and eco-system.
Dr Kaunda said the lower Zambezi Valley needs to be protected against any forms of environmental hazard.
“I am concerned about the people and their natural resources in and around the lower Zambezi national park. This rich eco-system has supported people from time in memorial,” he said.