KAFUE River, one of the country’s major water sources, is at risk of being polluted by Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) once again due to spillage of suspended solids and sulphate from the company’s Muntimpa tailings dam.
Muntimpa stream hosts KCM’s tailings dam where the mining giant discharges its effluents from the tailings leach plant and pours into Mwambashi River which subsequently flows into Kafue River.
According to investigations by the Sunday Times, the levels of sulphate in Kafue River on the Copperbelt have continued to increase in the recent past due to increased pollution from the mining giant.
The country’s largest integrated copper producer could not respond to the Press query during the week on the revelations.
However, the mining giant has in the past attributed the abnormal discharge of the tailings’ suspended solids to recent works that saw the expansion of the Muntimpa tailings dam.
Documents obtained by the Sunday Times indicated that the analysis by a joint team of experts from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), Nkana Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC) and Copperbelt provincial local government office indicate that Kafue River is at a greater risk of being polluted.
The revelation comes barely two weeks after Local Government Minister Emerine Kabanshi revealed that two water treatment plants for NWSC have been shut after being polluted by KCM.
Sources said the two water treatment plants were still closed although it was not clear the measures that the mining giant had taken in mitigating the pollution.
“You are already aware about the closure of the Mwambashi dam raw water intake and the Mwambashi Water Treatment Plant in Ganertone Township in Kitwe, and these sources have not been opened,” said the sources.
“The minister had given KCM an ultimatum of 14 days to rectify the problem but from the look of things very little or nothing has been done and the plants are still shut.”
The closure of the Mwambashi dam comes barely one month after the Government in collaboration with the African Development Bank (ADB) rehabilitated the facility at huge cost.
Ms Kabanshi reminded the mining company that preventing pollution was a mandatory obligation under the laws of Zambia and other international instruments.
She directed KCM to address the pollution problem within three weeks before the Government could order the mining giant to shut down its tailings leach plant.
There is fear that unless something is done promptly to prevent pollution, NWSC may be forced to shut down Bulangililo Water Treatment Plant which supplies 60 per cent of water Kitwe District.
[Times of Zambia]
This is a serious problem that will have drastic consequences if left unrectified. The damage caused by sulphate to the fishes in the river and the health of the people is unpredictable.
Wish we has a gov’t for the people, there companies will close some time and leave irreversible damage like in Kabwe,,, who cares!! let them get money and leave environmentally degraded Zambia… Thanks.
Kastilation can help.
Is this a zambiano science technique – “kastilation?????”
Ala isukulu lisuma bane, ifi fine tu kwete ba kapyanga ba mu ma station ba le tu teka, nangu tu tile “Bakateka!”(Mice!!)
Am tired of KCM news anyone to deal this these so called investor??
This is un called for the Environmental council of Zambia and other bodies make sure they pay the damage so far as you put on preventive measures. Especial now when we are still talking of global warming and climate change this is un acceptable. Kafue river has been a source of lively hold to many Zambians and i too. I think KCM is not ready to corporate with the people of this country. It wants to kill even the poor now who are fisher-people. You should realize that you are not the only one in the world, respect us and stop playing with the pro poor lively hood Kafue river.
Now they are WAKING UP there is a YOU TUBE documentary that has been circulating for 3 years where have they been…. Zambia Environmental Management Agency is aware of this but due to political interference by these ignorant politicians it is toothless. This is our environment and our health we are compromising with…as soon as that copper is finished all these Glencores and Vandanta will be long gone.
Congratulations Mayuka
The header is an understatement: Kafue river IS polluted and action by govt through its various wings has over the years failed to address the issue.
This river was polluted long time ago by ZCCM . ZCCM should first be held accountable.