NEWS & POLITICS
Zambians demand accountability after toxic spill by Chinese mining company
A toxic discharge from a Chinese-owned mining operation has sparked public outrage in Zambia, following revelations that the company attempted to downplay the extent of contamination in one of the country's major rivers.
Michael Oduor
In February, a dam holding wastewater from the Sino-Metals Leach Zambia copper mine spilled over into the Kafue River, a key source of water for many in the Southern African country.
The company, a subsidiary of the state-run China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group, initially admitted that the spill-over resulted in limited contamination by cyanide and arsenic. However, a two-month investigation conducted by a South African-based environmental company, Drizit, revealed the disaster released at least 1.5 million tons of toxic waste, 30 times more than Sino-Metals had claimed.
The report, based on the analysis of a total of 3,500 samples, revealed high levels of zinc, lead, arsenic, cyanide, cadmium, chromium, and other toxic metals. Sino Metals terminated Drizit's contract a day before the final report was due to be submitted.
President Hakainde Hichilema has called the situation a national crisis, requesting international assistance. Authorities deployed a helicopter to dispense lime along the river to reduce the acidity levels. The contamination resulted in fish mortality, posing health risks to half of Zambia's 21 million people, who depend on the river for irrigation and drinking water.
Sino-Metals has since issued an apology and vowed to assist in the cleanup process.
Zambia, the world's eighth-largest copper producer, ranking second in Africa after the Democratic Republic of Congo, relies on the metal's export for 70% of its earnings.
