Date: May 10, 2022

Venue: Justfeli Lodge, Luangwa Boma

Persons and Organisations in attendance (not complete):

Zambia MAB Committee with members from (a.o.):

*         Ministry of Mines

*         Ministry of Science and Technology

*         Ministry of Agriculture

*         Ministry of Tourism

*         National Heritage Conservation Commission

*         Ministry of Green Economy and Environment

• Department of National Parks and Wildlife

• UNESCO Regional Office-Harare representative Guy Broucke

• UNESCO International Office- Africa representative - Sheila Ashong

• Zimbabwe National Commission for MAB - UNESCO

• Other Zimbabwe representatives

• Senior Chief Mburuma

• Chief Mpuka - Luangwa

• Chieftainess Mpanshya - Rufunsa

• Representative of Chieftainess Chiawa

• Representatives of Mwembeshi Resources Limited (3)

• Area Member of Parliament-Emmanuel Tembo

• Zambia Police representatives

• Zambia Army representatives

• Local authorities: various ward councilors

• Civic leaders

• Local community representatives

• Sandra Gilissen - Representing Save Zambezi Save Zambezi

• Timothy K. Phiri Mizu Eco-Care/Save Zambezi Safe Zambezi (+ 2 team members Mizu Eco-Care)

  • Julius Kapembwa, University of Zambia

  • Mast Newspaper

  • Prime TV

  • Diamond TV

  • Local radio station(s)

  • Emmanuel Ngoma - Actionaid/Save Zambezi Safe Zambezi

  • Derwin Chali -Zambia Governance Foundation/Save Zambezi, Safe Zambezi

  • WWF

  • ChildFund

In total over 60 - 70 participants

Summary points regarding Biosphere Reserve (presentation and clarifications)

• Decision on Zambia’s application to have a Biosphere Reserve in Lower Zambezi National Park and surrounding GMAs was deferred in 2019 due to presence of the proposed mine and and again in 2021 pending site visit by UNESCO experts;

• In a Biosphere Reserve there is always a core level of protection, it is not meant to change protected area status but maintain it or improve it, add an extra level;

• Linkages to transboundary ecosystems/international designations is an advantage for successful consideration of Biosphere Reserve status (transboundary with Zimbabwe biosphere and National Heritage), have more benefits;

• LZNP falls under IUCN category 2 classification of complete protection; mine in the NP does not comply with IUCN requirements and would prohibit to get approval from UNESCO to be a Biosphere Reserve;

• Asked for clarity on location of the mine and how the Zambia Committee was going to zone the Biosphere whilst mine remains in the boundaries of the the National Park (as was mentioned that rezoning the National Park was not on the cards); 

• Emmanuel Chilema from Ministry of Technology and Science responded by saying the mine would be zoned completely outside the core zone, buffer zone and transition zone of the Biosphere Reserve, so the mine is no longer located in the Biosphere Reserve but remains located in the LZ National Park;

• UNESCO supports Biosphere Reserves, not by giving money but by (support to) approaching funding and implementation partners to do projects;

• Biosphere Reserves are managed by a local committee (on the ground), various plans for zones and stakeholders to be developed, then made into an integrated plan (youth involvement vital).

Points related to the Mine

• Area MP-Emmanuel Tembo made a speech declaring his positive view towards the mine; “it will be a game changer, attracting more investment, create jobs and contribute to the national economy” and made it clear that the locals want the mine;

• Chief Mphuka and Senior Chief Mburuma emphasized that they want the mine to start as soon as possible and that lodge owners and NGOs should not operate against the interest of Chiefs and people by delaying the mine (Chief Mburuma emphasized they should held in contempt of court for doing so). "Lodge owners are outsiders and not recognised by us as they didnt get permission from us to have those lodges" and "Tourism has done nothing for us" Chief Mburuma said;

• Chief Mphuka insisted that outsiders from the Luangwa area and from NGOs not located in Luangwa should not comment and do not have the right to take part in the process “Leave us alone” he said;

• Zambia National UNESCO Commission made it clear that the mine is going ahead (“it is a done deal”), that it is the official position of Government and that Government is also behind the Biosphere Reserve application;

• Zambia National UNESCO Commission said this stakeholder meeting was not about the mine but only about the Biosphere Reserve after Chief Mphuka insisted he will leave the meeting if it is still questioned (by stakeholders) that the mine is going ahead;

• The moderator of the meeting (Secretary General of Zambia National Unesco Commission) was asked by Timothy K. Phiri for protection of diverse opinions from CSOs and also for clarity on the "Mine is not being part of the Biosphere Reserve meeting", as this statement defeated the purpose of having a diversity of stakeholders with different views;

• Other participants refrained from any further questions on the workings of and possible negative impacts of having a large scale mine in the National Park (e.g. Zimbabwe representatives, other Chieftainess (representatives), NGOs did not speak).  Participants that did speak were in favour of the mine going ahead.

Take home points:

Summary of take home points from the meeting as given by the moderator on request of a community participant:

*         We are going to have a Biosphere Reserve (BSR)

*         The mine is going ahead

*         We have to change the boundary so that the mine is outside the BSR

Hon. Emmanuel Tembo's approach as Feira Constituency member of parliament, supporting the mine in a logical and sober manner, without blocking out diverse opinions against the mine should have set the standard and should have been the spirit maintained for the stakeholders' meeting, unlike the at times very aggressive approach of other participants against purported opponents of the mine;

Biosphere Reserve application will in no way stop the mine but plans to co-exist with the mine with its full endorsement. The Biosphere Reserve by nature should maintain or improve the protected and ecological status of the a National Park. In this case the proposed rezoning (mine outside the Biosphere) will simply change boundaries without stopping the negative effects of the mine in the Lower Zambezi National Park. In a manner of speaking the proposed Biosphere Reserve in the Lower Zambezi National Park is greenwashed;

Stakeholders consultative meeting did not accept or did not take place in a “safe atmosphere” where diverse views were welcomed or allowed and hence was not an open and democratic platform;

There is a clear disconnect between the tourism community, particularly the lodge owners and the local community (Chiefs, local government, local people). The term disconnect is here used as a euphemism as the fury from Chief Mphuka and Senior Chief Mburuma is indicative of a much wider rift. The tourism community needs to engage the Chiefs and community to bridge this rift. The tourism community also needs to share some responsibility for contribution to this rift and creating a situation that has made the Chiefs and locals so desperate for alternative investment, and in this case unfortunately a mine that will never sit well with tourism;

The International UNESCO BSR expert visitors will have to write a report on their findings for a final decision on the BSR application (that Zambia has to re-new). Impression is that the recommendation will be positive (even though they might not be happy with the mine in the park).

Prepared by Timothy K. Phiri and Sandra Gilissen