‘Need for prudent natural resource management’, 24 June 2016

Zambia Episcopal Conference secretary general Cleopas Lungu [speaking at the 5th Zambia Alternative Mining Indaba] said that, like many other countries in the world, Zambia faces the challenge of ensuring that the extractive industry sector yields maximum benefits for the people and the environment...“For many years now, we have had the unfortunate situation where the mining corporations have not adequately helped the poor communities in areas where they are operating. Paradoxically, while the mining companies have been making huge profits, the local communities have been adversely affected due to the mining activities,” he said. "...Zambia needs mining companies that will respect people’s rights and will not force mines on people and communities who don’t want them. In the extractive industry, we must put people, and not money, first,”...