From charcoal making to smoking bees

Zambian charcoal makers are being encouraged by a mining company to take up beekeeping because local forests are being depleted by mining operations.

Bwana Mkubwa Mining Limited (BMML) has donated bee keeping equipment worth about K20 million [about US$4,250] to Kansafwe community in Chief Chiwala's area in Ndola [Zambia].

BMML company secretary, Andrew Hickman, said his company was determined to conserve the environment and natural resources, hence their reason to sponsor the bee-keeping project.

Cynical palliative or responsible industry?