Urgent need for policy position change - Lutfo

MBABANE – Ndzingeni Member of parliament (MP) Lutfo Dlamini said government must urgently consider a policy change considering the current economic situation faced by Eswatini.

Dlamini said he was aware of the challenges environmentalists would say about the issue but government needs to consider awarding a license for mining of the Green Chert.

Dlamini said he was convinced Eswatini was sitting on billions of Emalangeni in what they term as ‘untapped Green Chert’ stone.

The MP, who is also a former Cabinet minister said he was worried that while the country had decided to protect the resource, the neighbouring country was granting mining licenses. He said a company had started mining the very same precious stone across the border line less than 100 metres away from where Eswatini’s Green

Chert stones are located. “Government needs to consider the fiscal position of the country against pleasing environmentalists on the protected area,” said the MP.

Dlamini said granting of a license could come with stringent conditions to ensure that rehabilitation of the area was fast tracked.

He further shared that he was well aware that a spinoff of the granting of license could create employment and business opportunities for a number of emaSwati.

Dlamini said currently what was happening was not assisting in anyway as the area protected was not recouping all the benefits that would be availed by granting of the license.

“This is like parking a limousine and deciding to walk instead, telling yourself you are preserving your luxury car,” opined Dlamini.