Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu is urging all regulatory agencies and other concerned parties to uphold safe and healthy exploitation of the mineral resources. He also added that that the promotion of sustainability in the mining sector will go a long way in ensuring gains for the sector. This, he said, is only possible through binding frameworks which will in turn lead to the country benefiting in general.
President Lungu further added that his administration is currently working to put in place legislations that ensure the exploration and mining only takes place once the environmental impact of the same has been established. These assessments will be done by relevant authorities. As such, the ministry of mines and minerals development, in conjunction with the respective authorities are working to guarantee environmental security especially for mining companies whose activities are likely to affect the environment.
On the other hand, the president also noted the country’s agricultural potential in as far as economic and poverty reduction is concerned. Consequently, the government is looking to continue with the programs in place to grow the sector. This, according to him, will offer numerous opportunities for a majority of the Zambian population to improve their standards of life. He was however quick to decry the negative climatic effects on the sector.
According to the president, the frequency as well as magnitude of negative climate continue to affect food security in the country. This, in turn, has adversely affected the livelihoods of the rural communities.
This, he says, has since necessitated the adoption of national policies such as the national adaptation plan of action, the climate change response strategy, and the national policy on climate change. President Lungu says these serve the purpose of promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices. They also foster the adaptation to climate change through technologies and services. This, in turn, to enhances productivity, sustainability as well as resilience of smallholder production systems.
