Maravi

(STICKY) Residents oppose two uranium mining ventures in Siavonga

COMMENT - Under the present investment regime, not only will the benefits not accrue to anyone in Zambia, but the local population and their descendants will bear the damage of uranium mining for generations to come. They should receive international support and attention in their actions.

Residents oppose two uranium mining ventures in Siavonga
By Staff Reporters
Wed 18 Aug. 2010, 13:40 CAT

THE opening of two uranium mining ventures in Siavonga have met resistance as residents led by former member of parliament Frederick Hapunda are up in arms describing the operations as danger to their communities. And Council of Churches in Zambia policy and advocacy advisor Evans Rubara has called on the government to be clear about its policy on uranium mining.

The Siavonga residents, led by Haapunda, have rejected the intended opening of uranium mining in two areas of the district, saying dangers of the mineral outweigh the benefits.

A cross section of residents in Siavonga have unanimously resolved to take on the government and ensure it does not award mining licences to two named investors that had already shown interest in undertaking full-scale mining of uranium in the district.

Hapuunda observed that having uranium mined in the district would put the lives of the people in the area at risk because of fissionable and radioactivity of the mineral in question.

Denison Mines Zambia Limited and Africa Energy Resources are currently in Siavonga district carrying out exploration works in Muntanga and Sikoongo areas respectively awaiting government approval to award them full-scale mining licences slated for 2012.

During the CCZ-organised public forums held in Siavonga last weekend, the residents drawn from a cross section of society declared that investment in terms of uranium mining was not welcome in their district.

And in an interview on Sunday, Rubara asked the government to ensure that there was a specific policy that dealt with uranium mining.

Rubara observed that without a clear mining policy on uranium mining, people's lives could be adversely affected.

“Without a policy we are faced with social issues; people are going to be displaced, the livelihood of the people will be affected even though they will live five kilometers away from the mining activity area because they will breathe the same air,” Rubara said.

He added that without the policy, the companies mining uranium would develop with high levels of impunity as there was currently no law that could take them to task and there was no legislation that would protect the community.

“As a representative of this mother body (CCZ) we would like to find out what principle was used by the government that was voted into power by the people, what methodology was used to allow activities of uranium such as exploration works, to commence in the two mines before a policy is put in place. We would like government to respond,” Rubara questioned.

He said CCZ strongly believed that the profits that could be gained from uranium mining could not be compared to the negative impacts on the livelihood of the people.

Rubara advised that government needed to pay attention to consequences that would befall the country in an event of pollution of Lake Kariba.

CCZ programme assistant Nsama Chikwanka observed that there had been inadequate community sensitisation on uranium mining with regards its negative impacts.

Chikwanka said for the activity of uranium nature, more sustained engagement would have been done to prepare the affected villagers since they are the ones that are relocated and displaced.

Labels: AFRICA ENERGY RESOURCES, CCZ, DENISON MINE, EVANS RUBARA, FREDERICK HAPUNDA, SIAVONGA, URANIUM

posted by MrK @ 4:03 PM