Maravi

Mwale brands CCZ statement on uranium mining as alarming

Mwale brands CCZ statement on uranium mining as alarming
By Speedwell Mupuchi in Kitwe
Tue 31 Aug. 2010, 04:00 CAT

MINES minister Maxwell Mwale has said the recent report of the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) which indicated that Zambia is not ready for mining uranium was alarming.

In an interview yesterday, Mwale dismissed claims that his ministry was threatening to make life for the church mother body difficult if it continued telling Zambians that uranium was dangerous and that Zambia, policy-wise, was not ready for mining it.

According to the CCZ report themed ‘Prosperity Unto Death –Is Zambia ready for Uranium mining’, uranium mining is a dangerous venture that requires stringent safety measures to prevent the environment, communities and workers from getting exposed to radiation from it.

The report on uranium mining in Zambia reviews the mining policy in existence and concludes that Zambia does not have a specific policy that governs uranium mining.

According to sources in the Ministry of Mines, Mwale last week invited CCZ general secretary Reverend Suzanne Matale to his office for a talk over CCZ’s position as presented in its latest report.

According to the source, the meeting with the minister was also attended by the two deputy ministers, Gabriel Namulambe and Boniface Nkhata, as well as permanent secretary Dr Godwin Beene.

“The ministry has not been happy with the campaigns that the mother church body has been doing. To make matters worse the Church has visited areas such as Solwezi and Siavonga where this uranium mining is taking place,” said the source.

According to the source, CCZ told Mwale that their duty was to provide information to the ministry to help them formulate a better policy to safeguard the interests of Zambians.

Another source said Dr Beene had even asked CCZ not to go ahead and launch their report on uranium because “it was not factual and alarming”.

The source said CCZ disregarded that “advice” and went ahead to launch the report.

According to another source, the ministry assured CCZ that government policies on uranium mining were adequate and that the mineral was not dangerous contrary to the church mother body’s position.

Another source who attended the Environmental Council of Zambia newsmakers forum at Protea Hotel at Arcades said the government “tried to paint a wonderful picture about uranium”.

Dr Beene, when contacted for comment said: “We do not threaten people, we did not threaten them. If that’s what they are telling you, then I am not saying anything and as far as I am concerned, you have not talked to me.”

But Mwale said his ministry believed in consultation and that all stakeholders were part of governance.

“The issue with CCZ is just lack of engagement,” Mwale said.

He said CCZ did not engage with government when publishing its report and that he made it clear to them that they were free to visit his ministry if they had issues.

Mwale said his ministry ensured it widely consulted on everything it wanted to do.

He explained that when uranium issues began in the 1970s, there was regulation and a commission called Prescribed Minerals and Materials Commission which looked at uranium exploration.

“…as government we believe the church is a social partner in development and CCZ is one wing for achieving advocacy. What’s lacking in their report is consultation, that’s what is missing in their publication. That publication sounds alarmist,” Mwale said.

He explained that uranium only became dangerous at enrichment stage, and said it could be mined just like copper.

Mwale said Gwembe Valley residents who had lived in the area where there is uranium deposits had not shown any health complications arising from the mineral.

Labels: CCZ, GODWIN BEENE, MAXWELL MWALE, PUBLIC HEALTH, URANIUM

posted by MrK @ 4:11 AM