Zambia's authorities refute U.S. claims of extensive contamination from a mining spill, emphasizing ongoing safety assessments and community support.
Zambia Rejects US Health Alert Over Copperbelt Mining Pollution Concerns
Zambia Rejects US Health Alert Over Copperbelt Mining Pollution Concerns
Government asserts safety of water and soil following toxic spill incident
The Zambian government has firmly rejected a health alert issued by the U.S. embassy regarding pollution in the Copperbelt mining region, sparked by a toxic spill earlier this year. The embassy urged a swift withdrawal of its personnel from Kitwe and nearby areas, citing serious contamination of water and soil stemming from a February incident at the Sino-Metals mine.
This environmental crisis arose when a tailings dam, which stores toxic waste and heavy metals, collapsed during heavy rainfall and poured into the Kafue River—a vital drinking water source. The U.S. embassy reported alarming new findings that indicated the presence of hazardous and potentially carcinogenic substances, with warnings that contaminants might also become airborne, posing additional health risks.
In response, government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa declared that recent laboratory results indicated PH levels in the area had stabilized and that the water was deemed safe for consumption. Mweetwa reassured the public that there was no reason for alarm, saying, “There is, therefore, absolutely no need to press the ‘panic button’ today to alarm the nation and the international community.”
Sino-Metals Leach Zambia mine, part of the state-owned China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group, had previously committed to compensating impacted communities and initiating environmental restoration following the spill, which not only harmed aquatic ecosystems but also affected local farmers dependent on the river for irrigation.
Green Economy Minister Mike Mposha stressed that the government had been proactive post-spill, maintaining public updates and compensation for affected communities. Furthermore, Minister of Water Development Collins Nzovu assured that water quality testing had consistently met World Health Organization standards.
Opposition Green Party leader Peter Sinkamba criticized the timing of the U.S. embassy’s health alert, questioning its motivations and insinuating geopolitical motivations for the delayed response. He drew attention to the embassy's silence regarding historical lead poisoning linked to Western mining corporations in central Zambia.
Maggie Mapalo Mwape, executive director of the Centre for Environment Justice, characterized the spill as a national disaster, demanding urgent and decisive actions to address the environmental fallout and safeguard the health of Zambian citizens.
This environmental crisis arose when a tailings dam, which stores toxic waste and heavy metals, collapsed during heavy rainfall and poured into the Kafue River—a vital drinking water source. The U.S. embassy reported alarming new findings that indicated the presence of hazardous and potentially carcinogenic substances, with warnings that contaminants might also become airborne, posing additional health risks.
In response, government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa declared that recent laboratory results indicated PH levels in the area had stabilized and that the water was deemed safe for consumption. Mweetwa reassured the public that there was no reason for alarm, saying, “There is, therefore, absolutely no need to press the ‘panic button’ today to alarm the nation and the international community.”
Sino-Metals Leach Zambia mine, part of the state-owned China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group, had previously committed to compensating impacted communities and initiating environmental restoration following the spill, which not only harmed aquatic ecosystems but also affected local farmers dependent on the river for irrigation.
Green Economy Minister Mike Mposha stressed that the government had been proactive post-spill, maintaining public updates and compensation for affected communities. Furthermore, Minister of Water Development Collins Nzovu assured that water quality testing had consistently met World Health Organization standards.
Opposition Green Party leader Peter Sinkamba criticized the timing of the U.S. embassy’s health alert, questioning its motivations and insinuating geopolitical motivations for the delayed response. He drew attention to the embassy's silence regarding historical lead poisoning linked to Western mining corporations in central Zambia.
Maggie Mapalo Mwape, executive director of the Centre for Environment Justice, characterized the spill as a national disaster, demanding urgent and decisive actions to address the environmental fallout and safeguard the health of Zambian citizens.
