ZAMBIA: Communiqué issued following the Conference on ‘Laudato Si’ organised by ZEC
THE LAUDATO SI CONFERENCE
COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED FOLLOWING THE CONFERENCE
ON LAUDATO SI ORGANISED BY ZEC THROUGH CARITAS ZAMBIA & JCTR, HELD IN
LUSAKA ZAMBIA FROM 25TH APRIL 2016 TO 26TH APRIL 2016
ON LAUDATO SI ORGANISED BY ZEC THROUGH CARITAS ZAMBIA & JCTR, HELD IN
LUSAKA ZAMBIA FROM 25TH APRIL 2016 TO 26TH APRIL 2016
“It is imperative to promote an economy which favours productive
diversity and business creativity. Small
scale food production systems which feed the greater part of the worlds
peoples, using a modest amount of land and producing less waste-should be promoted”
(Pope Francis, Laudato
si, 129)
1.
Preamble
Preamble
The Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), through Caritas Zambia and the
Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) hosted a National Conference on
the theme ‘Care for Our Common Home in the Context of Large Scale
Investments – Mining and Agriculture.’ The Conference was inspired by the
Encyclical, Laudato si’ given
in Rome by Pope Francis on 24th May 2015 on the Solemnity of the
Pentecost and the third anniversary of his Papacy.
Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) hosted a National Conference on
the theme ‘Care for Our Common Home in the Context of Large Scale
Investments – Mining and Agriculture.’ The Conference was inspired by the
Encyclical, Laudato si’ given
in Rome by Pope Francis on 24th May 2015 on the Solemnity of the
Pentecost and the third anniversary of his Papacy.
To all people of Zambia,
We, the Catholic Bishops, together with the
participants from AMECEA Justice and Peace Department, the Episcopal Conference
of Malawi, Mining companies representatives, Government Officials, Zambian Civil
Society Organisation (CSOs), Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP),
Catholic Commission for Development (CCD) in Zambia, the clergy, the Religious,
Business Executives, academicians, and the lay faithful from Catholic dioceses
in Zambia,
participants from AMECEA Justice and Peace Department, the Episcopal Conference
of Malawi, Mining companies representatives, Government Officials, Zambian Civil
Society Organisation (CSOs), Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP),
Catholic Commission for Development (CCD) in Zambia, the clergy, the Religious,
Business Executives, academicians, and the lay faithful from Catholic dioceses
in Zambia,
APPRECIATING the spiritual and social message contained in
Laudato si in which the Holy Father,
Pope Francis challenged all stakeholders to acknowledge the damage we have
inflicted to our environment and the urgent need to dialogue and find lasting
solutions to challenges being posed on the earth, whose resources are meant to
benefit all humankind;
Laudato si in which the Holy Father,
Pope Francis challenged all stakeholders to acknowledge the damage we have
inflicted to our environment and the urgent need to dialogue and find lasting
solutions to challenges being posed on the earth, whose resources are meant to
benefit all humankind;
ENCOURAGED by the presence of His Eminence, Cardinal
Peter Turkson, the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace,
who is representing the Holy See; the presence of Apostolic Nuncio to Malawi
and Zambia, His Excellency Julio Murati, whose presence signified our communion
and solidarity with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for which we are grateful;
the presence of His Royal Highness, Chief Mumena, Chief Mpande and the Deputy
Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and the open
and sincere discourse that took place among the presenters and participants in
the conference;
Peter Turkson, the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace,
who is representing the Holy See; the presence of Apostolic Nuncio to Malawi
and Zambia, His Excellency Julio Murati, whose presence signified our communion
and solidarity with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for which we are grateful;
the presence of His Royal Highness, Chief Mumena, Chief Mpande and the Deputy
Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and the open
and sincere discourse that took place among the presenters and participants in
the conference;
CONCERNED about the environmental impact of large scale
mining and agriculture. While appreciating
that the two sectors are cardinal in creating jobs and meeting our daily needs,
there is need for prudent and sustainable management of the earth’s resources
to reduce poverty among the people for the benefit of all and future
generations;
mining and agriculture. While appreciating
that the two sectors are cardinal in creating jobs and meeting our daily needs,
there is need for prudent and sustainable management of the earth’s resources
to reduce poverty among the people for the benefit of all and future
generations;
INSPIRED by the deep insights from His Eminence, Cardinal
Peter Turkson shared through the key note address in which he gave an overview
of the encyclical Laudato Si’ and urged the conference to translate the ideas
of the message into action; and by our
own desire to change our attitudes towards all creation so as to Care for
our Common Home, in the context of
our quest for socio-economic and political development, we the participants to
the conference make the following resolutions:
Peter Turkson shared through the key note address in which he gave an overview
of the encyclical Laudato Si’ and urged the conference to translate the ideas
of the message into action; and by our
own desire to change our attitudes towards all creation so as to Care for
our Common Home, in the context of
our quest for socio-economic and political development, we the participants to
the conference make the following resolutions:
2. Solidarity with the poor and
afflicted
afflicted
Aware of the difficulties and challenges that most of the
poor face as a result of social economic development driven by large scale
investments, we stand in solidarity with these poor communities by sharing
information and education in order to empower them;
poor face as a result of social economic development driven by large scale
investments, we stand in solidarity with these poor communities by sharing
information and education in order to empower them;
3. Mining
Appreciating that mining
has contributed to the development of societies and industries and recognising
that mining contributes to job and wealth creation of the country, we however challenge the mining sector to
begin to practice responsible mining that take into account the needs of the
environment and the affected communities. At the same time mining companies
should put in place actions that go a long way in reclaiming land that has been
used for extracting minerals so that it can be re-used for other purposes.
has contributed to the development of societies and industries and recognising
that mining contributes to job and wealth creation of the country, we however challenge the mining sector to
begin to practice responsible mining that take into account the needs of the
environment and the affected communities. At the same time mining companies
should put in place actions that go a long way in reclaiming land that has been
used for extracting minerals so that it can be re-used for other purposes.
In terms of mining concessions and agreements, we
demand that there be transparency and accountability starting from the affected
communities to the policy makers. Government, Traditional leaders and mining
companies should lead the way in promoting transparency.
demand that there be transparency and accountability starting from the affected
communities to the policy makers. Government, Traditional leaders and mining
companies should lead the way in promoting transparency.
We appeal to relevant institutions such as ZEMA to
exercise their mandate and provide information to those affected, especially
displaced communities as a result of mining. We urge the government to dialogue
with various players where mining projects are happening;
exercise their mandate and provide information to those affected, especially
displaced communities as a result of mining. We urge the government to dialogue
with various players where mining projects are happening;
4. Agriculture
Committing ourselves to the promotion of conservation, regenerative and
organic farming which allow the earth to regenerate as this is the best way of
caring for our common home, therefore we will lobby government to adopt these as the main
methods of farming in Zambia.
organic farming which allow the earth to regenerate as this is the best way of
caring for our common home, therefore we will lobby government to adopt these as the main
methods of farming in Zambia.
Although large scale
agriculture is necessary for increased production of food to achieve food and
nutrition security, this must be responsive to the needs of the environment and
care must be taken to promote biodiversity in their practices and
methodologies. Large scare agriculture
that displace the local community must make sure that the local community and
their economy benefit from the investment, not only as workers but also as key
producers at the household level;
agriculture is necessary for increased production of food to achieve food and
nutrition security, this must be responsive to the needs of the environment and
care must be taken to promote biodiversity in their practices and
methodologies. Large scare agriculture
that displace the local community must make sure that the local community and
their economy benefit from the investment, not only as workers but also as key
producers at the household level;
5. Other policy issues that cut across mining and agriculture
We urge
government to implement policies that protect the environment and refrain from
developing cold feet every time there are vested interests in mining and
agriculture investments. The government should also strive to harmonise all
policies that govern mining, game management, agriculture, water and land;
government to implement policies that protect the environment and refrain from
developing cold feet every time there are vested interests in mining and
agriculture investments. The government should also strive to harmonise all
policies that govern mining, game management, agriculture, water and land;
5. Conclusion
In view of the above, we the conference
participants will promote the recent encyclical of Pope Francis on the care of
creation called “Laudato Si’ to
all stake holders, especially policy makers because it provides a good resource
for all on the care of our environment; further we will lobby for the
introduction of the concept ‘our common home’ in school curriculum.
participants will promote the recent encyclical of Pope Francis on the care of
creation called “Laudato Si’ to
all stake holders, especially policy makers because it provides a good resource
for all on the care of our environment; further we will lobby for the
introduction of the concept ‘our common home’ in school curriculum.
We resolve to continue promoting honest
and open dialogue with mining companies and investors in agriculture together
with the policy makers to raise awareness on the need to take care of our
common home. Further we commit ourselves to empower citizens to meaningfully
engage in environmental impact assessment community hearings.
and open dialogue with mining companies and investors in agriculture together
with the policy makers to raise awareness on the need to take care of our
common home. Further we commit ourselves to empower citizens to meaningfully
engage in environmental impact assessment community hearings.
In view of the challenges of drought,
we urge the government to improve Zambia’s early warning alerts for farmers
before the onset of the rainy season to guarantee food and nutrition security
and also promote water harvesting, tree regeneration and establish innovative,
cheaper and alternative sources of energy.
we urge the government to improve Zambia’s early warning alerts for farmers
before the onset of the rainy season to guarantee food and nutrition security
and also promote water harvesting, tree regeneration and establish innovative,
cheaper and alternative sources of energy.
SOURCE: ZEC Communication Office
