Maravi

(LUSAKATIMES) You can’t have my land -Chief Musele tells First Quantum minerals

You can’t have my land -Chief Musele tells First Quantum minerals
Thursday, March 17, 2011, 14:53

Senior Chief Musele of the Lunda people of Solwezi district in North western Province has said he would not sign the surface rights for the development of the Trident project by First Quantum Minerals if the 750 square kilometres being asked for is not revised.

Senior Chief Musele said he would not go ahead and sign because the land being asked for by the mining company is too much and suggested that they take up only 500 square kilometres.

He expressed fear that if the mine was given that much land his people would have no where to settle and do their farming activities from because the whole
area would be taken up.

The traditional leader was speaking during a meeting organised by the Environmental Council of Zambia at Wanyinwa Basic School in Solwezi on Wednesday.

Senior Chief Musele bemoaned gaps in the way information flowed between the two parties, citing the non availability of the map which clearly stated boundaries and where the mining activity starts and ends.

He added that information on a number of families to be affected by the mining activities through displacement had also not been disclosed.

Meanwhile, the senior chief has appealed to the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) to consider translating the Environmental Impact Assessment draft report for the Trident project into local languages to enable locals have a clear understanding of its contents.

The chief also appealed for more time from ECZ to enable him study the draft report thoroughly.

Speaking at the same meeting, acting Senior Chief Sailung’a of Mwinilunga district observed that development brought about both a negative and positive impact on the people and environment hence the need to work out modalities on how to mitigate the negative impact.

Senior Chief Sailung’a said the coming of the Trident project would tamper with nature as trees and rivers that have been sustaining people’s livelihoods would be disturbed adding that the mine should try to protect these in every way possible.

ZANIS

Labels: CHIEF MUSELE, FIRST QUANTUM MINING, LAND RIGHTS, SOLWEZI COUNCIL

posted by MrK @ 3:41 PM