SOME environmentalists and ordinary citizens have written to the Attorney General requesting the withdrawal of the approval and consent granted to Mwembeshi Resources Limited to commence mining activities in the Lower Zambezi National Park.

In a letter dated February 3, 2022, lawyers from HH Ndhlovu & Co, who are representing the parties, said they had further instructions to commence public interest litigation in the courts of law if the same was not withdrawn with immediate effect.

“We refer to the above and advise that we act for a consortium of environmentalists and some ordinary citizens strongly opposed to mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park, kindly note our interest. Our instructions are to advise that the approval and consents granted to Mwembeshi Resources Limited to commence mining activities in the Lower Zambezi National Park, be withdrawn,” the letter read.

“The approval and consents referred to herein are those granted after the commencement of the Constitution of Zambia, 2016. They relate to, inter alia, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) granted under both the Environmental Management Act, No. 12 of 2011, and the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, Statutory Instruments No. 28 of 1997 and the consents issued pursuant to the Zambia Wildlife Act, No. 14 of 2015 and the Heritage Conservation and Commission Act, No. 19 of 2021. We have further instructions to commence public interest litigation in the courts of law if the same are not withdrawn with immediate effect.”