Authorities have sprayed lime over a 100-kilometer stretch of the Kafue River to neutralize acid plumes and prevent further contamination.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Peter Kapala confirmed the development, stating that the acid plumes were detected between Ngabwe and Mumbwa districts. The contamination has been traced back to Sino Metal Tailings in Chambeshi, located in the Copperbelt Province.
In an interview with ZNBC News, Mr. Kapala explained that a coordinated response involving the Zambia Air Force, Zambia Police, and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) is underway to mitigate the environmental impact.
The operation has deployed three Zambia Air Force planes and boats to distribute lime, particularly in areas where the river’s current is stronger. Efforts will continue tomorrow, focusing on the swamps and riverbanks where the water flow is slower, allowing for more effective treatment.
Authorities remain on high alert as they work to contain the pollution and safeguard communities that rely on the Kafue River for water and fishing.
Zambians are not benefiting from mining activities because they are not own by Zambians. They consume our electricity and now they are damaging our environment. People will have long term effects of this poisoning. God knows how long this poisoning has been taking place and how much has been covered up in the past. This is a big crisis and it threatens our lives. GRZ should revoke licenses of the offenders and confiscate their property. The fact that GRZ is conducting the clean up means that the companies have no capacity to do it. That is unacceptable.
Well said, mines are not benefitting Zambians, for years these accidents have been happening and they are always being silenced. Look at the open pit mines that are left after the minerals are removed who is going to fill them up? Are they not a geological hazard that can lead to tremors/ earth quakes? Look at the pollution, over the years and then you wonder why our soils are destroyed! Now look at the fish, the cancer that our people suffer from more each day. Electricity being consumed by the mines at the expense of businesses, hospitals, farms etc etc And the mines are not even taxed as they should be. Zambia does not benefit from the mines at all.
The polluters should bear the cost for spraying and pay compensation to the country and the citizens who’ve lost livelihoods
Hopefully, all these costs are being quantified and will be passed onto the choncholi culprits.
Let the company responsible for this compensate for all the pollution.Some of these
Investors are even exempted from tax.Let the
Responsible agencies swing into action.
Certainly government could have used that money for development matters if those polluters didn’t do those. So it’s justified to pass the cost onto the polluters
Grz has to bear some responsibilty for failing to regular minine inspections throughput the country small mines are all over in rural areas with no visits since inception
and gold mines should be closely monitored
The problem is with ZEMA itself. I work as part time consultant in environmental matters and at one time I was discussing with a Chinese developer as what should be done. However the Chinese investor kept referring to ZEMA telling me that we need not to do some studies because ZEMA had already agreed that some data collection were not necessary.
GRZ should ask for international assistance from countries like Australia that have a lot of experience in mining and environmental remediation. Chinese govt must come on board to pay for the damage.
Dependency syndrom is manifesting
Dependency is asking people to do the mining which you can do yourself
Why are mining licenses not being suspended? This is corruption
Mines Safety Deoartment is not funded: that is why they do not carry out inspections
ZEMA is a toothless ,corrupt ,incompetent and lethargic organization. This pollution starts with them.
Don’t you know that everything has collapsed in this country. Only hollow self praise by the same people who have lamentably failed is remaining. I don’t support any political party in Zambia, I don’t even know who to vote for in the next Presidential election. I am looking for competency, capacity, truth and sticking to one’s word, I cannot see it anywhere
Mitigating is 1/100th of the problem. Solving the problem is what we need to focus on 100 percent. It should never happen again. Succesful Governments don’t mitigate. They solve!
Too little too late. Serious ecological damage to flora and fauna as well as the environment has already been done which will take more than 20 years to reverse.