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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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DISRUPTING A NATURAL PROCESS According to conservation activist Robert Chimambo , the forest currently has enough fresh water to effectively flush out toxic artificial chemicals that have found their way into the rivers . “ The whole area of Lusaka is limestone , but vulnerable to contamination . Most of the houses are built on septic tanks , which means faecal matter and all the chemicals that are used to clean toilets go into the water . In the forest reserve currently , there ’ s fresh water coming from there and flushing out some of these rivers that have been contaminated ,” says Chimambo . But he fears that the new owners will cut down the trees to make way for construction projects and subsequently build sewer systems . This will alter the natural process of purification and ultimately see Lusaka ’ s fresh water supply disappear .
Through a conservation group called Chalimbana Head Waters , Chimambo and other likeminded activists have started mobilising support from concerned parties in the region , including a traditional leader in the chiefdom where the river and its tributaries can be found . “ We are sending letters to [ Her Royal Highness ] Chieftainess Mukamambo , to inform and warn her people that they will now be getting sewerage on Chalimbana [ River ].”
LEGAL CONCERNS Lusaka-based architect Murray Anderson believes that the government ’ s actions are illegal , and that the whole exercise has been rushed without following proper procedure . The activists have a copy of a statutory instrument signed by President Edgar Lungu in early August , as well as a subdivision plan stamped by the Lusaka Provincial Planning Authority ( DPPH ) and the Ministry of Lands , Natural Resources and Environmental Protection ( MLNREP ).
They say the entire legal process only took about three weeks and failed to include an information forum for the public , or an environmental impact assessment ( EIA ) from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency ( ZEMA ), which is responsible for implementing environmental safeguards by ensuring development interventions are preceded by appropriate EIAs .
“ Within a period of three weeks , we had a de-gazetting [ removal of official status ] of the forest reserve and titles being issued on that land , which is incredibly fast — obviously it is fast because none of the procedures were followed ,” says Anderson .
ACTIVISTS DEMAND ANSWERS When contacted for comment , ZEMA director general John Msimuko claimed ignorance over the subdivision
Janet Irwin issue . “ I am not aware of anything happening there . As an institution , we would only deal with the matter after getting the full information ,” says Msimuko .
The activists have since written to relevant government institutions , including the MLNREP and the attorney general ’ s office . ( Ed ’ s note : No conclusion to the matter had been established at the time of going to print .)
Other concerned residents have resorted to private messaging President Lungu via his Facebook page : “ I did not know the procedure to contact the president , so I sent him a private message on Facebook . I have not received a response yet ,” says Paul Golson , who has lived near the forest reserve for over 40 years .
LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES Andy Anderson , another concerned Lusaka-based architect , says the consequences of this subdivision would affect hundreds of thousands of inhabitants , who depend on the water . “ The impact is very extensive . It has far-reaching ramifications ,” he warns .
Forest reserves in Lusaka have been protected since the 1950s . Up until around 10 years ago , the total protected area stood at about 30 000 hectares , but this has reduced significantly over the years to approximately 9 000 hectares .
The remaining amount is currently threatened by environmentally damaging activities like sand mining and charcoal burning — despite the fact that Zambia has agreed to use the forests to offset their greenhouse gas emissions under the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution ( INDC ) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC ). PA
Most concerns revolve around the impact that the land distribution may have on the region ’ s water collection system , which feeds into the Chalimbana River and other reservoirs .
www . plumbingafrica . co . za November 2017 Volume 23 I Number 9