Topic: Community Voices for Strengthened Environmental Rights
Background
Environmental rights are fundamental to the health, dignity, and livelihood of individuals, particularly those in vulnerable and marginalized communities. In regions impacted by environmental degradation, pollution, and exploitation of natural resources, community members often face violations of these rights, yet their voices and experiences are frequently overlooked.
The 5th Environmental Protection Dialogue (EPD2024) will host a dedicated community panel discussion titled “Community Voices for Strengthened Environmental Rights.” This platform will provide an opportunity for local community representatives from mining areas (Sinazongwe, Serenje, Kitwe, Mufulira and Kabwe) to share their real-life experiences with environmental challenges and violations. The aim is to highlight the struggles communities face in seeking justice, including inadequate access to environmental information, lack of participation in decision-making processes, displacement, pollution of water sources, land degradation, and other social and environmental injustices.
This panel discussion is intended to amplify the voices of those directly affected, ensuring their perspectives shape policy discussions and legal reforms. Their stories will illustrate the ongoing struggles to uphold environmental rights in the face of industrial and developmental pressures, offering insights into the need for stronger safeguards, regulatory frameworks, and inclusive governance structures that protect communities and their environment.
Through this engagement, we seek to bridge the gap between policymakers, environmental advocates, and communities, fostering collaboration to strengthen environmental laws and social safeguards for sustainable development and thriving communities.
Sinazongwe
Speaker: Mr. Douglas Mudenda
Mr. Douglas Mudenda is a dedicated community advocate from Sinazongwe, known for amplifying community voices and fighting against injustices affecting residents. As the Village Secretary, Douglas has been at the forefront of mobilizing his community to stand up against exploitation and environmental degradation, particularly in their battles with the Collum Coal Mine. Trained by the Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) in environmental and land rights, Douglas played a crucial role in organizing villagers to force the closure of Shaft 6B, which had been a source of displacement and inadequate compensation. He led the resistance against the sale of land at an unfair price of K2 per square meter, successfully negotiating for higher compensation for the 16 villagers displaced from Shaft 6B. Beyond land rights, Douglas also fought against the environmental damage caused by the mine, including pollution of local water sources and the destruction of vital water bodies like Nkandabwe Dam and irrigation systems that sustained the community’s livelihoods. Through his tireless efforts, Douglas has become a leading voice in the struggle for fair treatment, environmental protection, and community empowerment. His work exemplifies the power of grassroots mobilization in holding corporations accountable and securing justice for marginalized communities.
Serenje
Speaker: Mr. Kalika Phiri
Mr. Kalika Phiri is a skilled paralegal and accomplished defender of Human and Environmental Rights, who has devoted his life to fighting injustices, particularly in Zambia’s rural areas. Through his paralegal work, Mr. Phiri has empowered numerous rural communities to understand and protect their constitutional land and property rights, especially in cases of internal displacement from ancestral lands without legal due process or fair compensation. Mr. Phiri has collaborated with Human Rights Watch, a global organization focused on the promotion and protection of human rights, helping to spotlight rights violations wherever they occur. In his work with Human Rights Watch, he has identified vulnerable communities in Serenje affected by internal land displacement. He has also partnered with the Southern Africa Litigation Centre, providing legal support to displaced communities in Serenje and assisting with language translation to ensure these communities are aware of their land and property rights. Additionally, Mr. Phiri has worked closely with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), reporting environmental violations and securing successful outcomes in courts of law. His contributions to human rights and environmental justice make him a leading advocate for the rights of marginalized communities in Zambia.
Mufulira
Speaker: Mr. Timothy Chitalu
Mr. Timothy Chitalu is a passionate environmental activist, holding an Advanced Certificate in Financial Management and currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance. He serves as a Programs Officer for Future-Preneurs Zambia, where his work focuses on environmental and extractive issues. With a deep commitment to sustainability, Timothy has dedicated his career to raising awareness about climate change and advocating for environmental justice in his community. In addition to his professional role, Timothy spearheads a community environmental group that addresses various environmental challenges. His work includes campaigning for local policies aimed at reducing carbon footprints and promoting a cleaner, greener environment. Timothy’s passion for environmental protection is reflected in his tireless efforts to inspire and mobilize others, making a positive and lasting impact on the planet.
Kitwe
Speaker: Mr. Evans Nsokolo
Evans is the Chief Executive Officer of Muombo Climate Change Response Organization, based in Kitwe on the Copperbelt. He serves as the Chairperson of the Zambia Institute of Environmental Management in Kitwe and is an affiliate member of both the Zambia Climate Change Network and Climate Action Network Zambia. A passionate environmental activist, Evans has a long history of civic leadership, having served as the Chairperson for Community Environment and Social Services in Kitwe. His involvement in national climate initiatives includes participation in the validation of Zambia’s National Adaptation Plan.
With over 20 years of experience in the Ministry of Health, Evans brings a wealth of knowledge to his work in environmental conservation, particularly in biodiversity protection and climate resilience. He envisions a pollution-free environment and is a strong advocate for raising awareness of environmental violations. His commitment to environmental justice includes championing the establishment of an environmental court in Zambia to ensure the enforcement of environmental laws and protections.
Kabwe
Speaker: Ms. Agness Mboma
Agness Mboma is a passionate community leader dedicated to Environmental advocacy and community development through her activism, especially in raising awareness about lead pollution, environmental management and wildlife conservation. She is currently serving as the ward Development committee chairperson for Njanje ward in kabwe and a coordinator for many women’s groups. She has extensive experience of over 25 years in wildlife management and environmental management, contributing to national parks and community-based environmental initiatives, community mobilization and leadership. She is also a key focal point contact person for many environmental community projects in kabwe including the Zambia Mining and Environmental Remidiation and Improvement (ZMERIP) project and many kabwe lead projects. She also advocates for human rights in relation to Environmental Violations in kabwe and advocates for a clean and green kabwe free from lead pollution and environmental damage.
Moderator: HIVOS
Website: https://hivos.org/
Speaker: Mr. Raymond Kaima
Mr. Raymond Kaima is an environmental and human rights activist with over 12years of experience in the environmental, conservation and natural resources management sector and a champion for human rights, environmental rights; and a peace and conflict resolution activist. He is skillful in engaging different stakeholders, experienced in the policy formulation process, analysis and monitoring with hands on experience in lobby and advocacy. He has worked with international funding agencies such as USAID; EU, OSISA among others and, managed projects successfully.
Raymond also possesses skills and capacity of combatting illegal wildlife trade, having worked on various cases with a wildlife element (prosecutorial) within the national and transnational conservation frontier. He is abreast with the national and international legal instruments protecting and combatting illegal wildlife trade.
In his years of experience, he has conducted research and published articles on land rights, environmental protection; empowered and built capacity of community members, and law enforcement officers with a human rights-based approach and provided pro bono legal services to various clients.
He is also an acclaimed Mandela Washington Fellow; an Alumnus of the Young African Leaders Initiative; a member of the AU – CIDO Interfaith Dialogue on Violent Extremism among other extra professional qualifications.
He is a qualified lawyer, with a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB), a Diploma and Certificate in International Human Rights, a trained paralegal officer and yet to be admitted to the Zambian Bar as an Advocate of the High Courts of Zambia.
