Care for Nature Zambia has called on the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation to hold an urgent stakeholder’s dialogue with the people of Luapula Province to help understand the rationale behind the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) they have signed with Power China International Group Limited to channel water from Luapula to the Kafue Basin.
Government signed an MoU with Power China International Group Limited to develop a comprehensive water plan for the Kafue catchment and transfer of water from Luapula River to Kafue River
The Organization says the dialogue is needed because during the last meeting which was held some years back concerning the establishment of the Luapula River Authority, concerns were raised about how the waters will be shared between Zambia and DRC and how the proposed activities under LRA would be managed to ensure that the aquatic ecosystems is not disturbed.
Care for Nature Zambia Executive Director, Nsama Kearns, says she is surprised that while still waiting for the establishment of the River Authority, the project has emerged.
Ms. Kearns has since appealed to government to wider consultations before making decisions which do not only affect Zambian’s but also, neighboring countries.
“With wider consultations, all the concerns of the people are addressed,” said Ms. Kearns in a statement to RCV News in Lusaka today.
She has also asked the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation to share the MoU for review to avoid surprises.
By Margaret Mwanza
