Zambia: A Right Decision Protecting The Lower Zambezi National Park

By The Rt. Rev. Dr. Musonda Trevor Selwyn Mwamba*

I am blessed to have travelled the world, but few places match the raw beauty of my beloved Zambia.

Our nation's stunning, unspoiled landscapes are not simply home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna; they have supported generations of Zambians and as a citizen - and the leader of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) - I believe each of us has a duty to protect and nurture our country's precious natural assets.

That is why I warmly welcome the decision to end the mining activities of Mwembeshi Resources Limited in the Lower Zambezi National Park.

The company's operations were initially suspended in May after it was found to have committed multiple environmental violations during work on the Kangaluwi copper mine.

I was reminded then of the words of Edward Heath, the former British Conservative prime minister, who half a century ago memorably described reports of unethical practices in Africa by Lonrho, a mining company, as "the unpleasant and unacceptable face of capitalism".

With the large-scale mining activities of Mwembeshi Resources, that same face had quite evidently turned its gaze to the Lower Zambezi National Park, one of Africa's rare untouched wilderness areas recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

An area that not only provides a critical biodiversity link between the animals in Luangwa valley and the Kafue basin but is one of our country's most popular tourist destinations, generating much-needed revenue for government and sustaining the livelihoods of thousands of Zambians.

The flouting of environmental laws by Mwembeshi Resources was deeply troubling. It raised serious concerns over the threat posed to wildlife in the park, including elephants, and the damage that could be inflicted on a flourishing tourism industry.

There was anxiety, too, that toxic chemicals from the mining could contaminate water in the Zambezi basin, posing a danger to livelihoods.

In the face of these environmental threats, I warned that now was not the time for half measures and weak leadership. That Mwembeshi's' licence should be permanently revoked to remove one of the biggest threats to the region's wildlife and wilderness that have survived so many centuries of challenges.

I am pleased to say that the government listened.

Last month, the Zambia Environmental Management Agency cancelled Mwembeshi's licence to mine in the Lower Zambezi National Park after the company failed to take satisfactory measures to remedy its environmental violations.

In doing so, Zambia has shown the world that it is a nation committed to protecting the environment and playing our part in tackling the climate crisis.

That we are not afraid to stand steadfast before those who would plunder our natural resources for profit.

That we will take bold and decisive action to prevent pollution and ecological degradation; to promote nature conservation; and to secure the sustainable use of natural resources in the Lower Zambezi.

This is, of course, not just about the irresponsible exploits of a mining company in the Lower Zambezi. We must consider the wider potential of our nation's stunning natural beauty.

Roughly 40 percent of Zambia's land mass enjoys some form of protection, with globally significant biodiversity. According to a report published by the World Bank in 2021, this combination of protected areas and rich biodiversity is equally a major tourism asset, in an industry which the world over attracts eight billion visitors a year to protected areas. It sustains about ten per cent of jobs globally and contributes as much as 10 percent of global GDP.

The same World Bank report shows how public investment in protected areas pays off - generating per-kwacha economic returns on government spending of approximately 28.2 kwacha in South Luangwa National Park and about 16.7 kwacha in Lower Zambezi National Park. The same report states that each kwacha spent by visitors at Lower Zambezi National Park raises household incomes around the park by 1.82 kwacha and around South Luangwa National Park by 1.53 kwacha "reflecting the penetration of tourist spending into local economies".

Yet the potential of Zambia’s protected area network and its contribution to economic development in the country is still largely untapped. It is clear that we must recognise the huge potential on our doorstep and the benefits of championing sustainable and inclusive tourism in protected areas.

In short, Zambia needs to address losses to its protected area tourism sector to regain benefits to park-adjacent communities and to secure the conservation status of its significant natural assets. And Zambians need to know that there are other means of building sustainable natural resource-based economies in fragile environments such as the Lower Zambezi that can sustain our people and their descendants well into the future.

Let us not forget that we are the custodians of our critical natural resources. It is our duty to protect them for the enjoyment and security of future generations.