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The Zambian government has refuted claims of hazardous pollution in the Copperbelt mining area, following safety concerns expressed by the U.S. Embassy.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy issued a health alert, directing the immediate departure of its personnel from Kitwe and surrounding localities, citing concerns over “widespread contamination of water and soil” linked to a February spill at the Sino-Metals mine.
The incident occurred when a tailings dam, used for storing toxic waste and heavy metals, breached into the Kafue River, a crucial source of drinking water, after heavy rainfall.
The U.S. Embassy stated that new information revealed “the extent of hazardous and carcinogenic substances.”
It warned that, beyond the “contaminated water and soil, contaminants from the spilled mine tailings may also become airborne, posing a health threat if inhaled.”
Zambian government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa responded, stating that “laboratory results show that PH levels have returned to normal” in the area and the water is safe for consumption.
Mweetwa asserted that there are no longer any significant implications for public health, water safety, agriculture, or the environment.
“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 is a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group, a company owned by the Chinese government.
The BBC has reached out to Sino-Metals for comment.
At the time of the spill, Sino-Metals committed to compensating affected communities and rehabilitating the environment.
The spill impacted aquatic life and farmers who rely on the water for crop irrigation.
Green Economy Minister Mike Mposha stated that the government has been proactive since February, providing ongoing updates to the public, and that affected communities have received compensation.
Minister of Water Development Collins Nzovu said that the government has been consistently testing the water, confirming that it meets World Health Organization standards.
Opposition Green Party leader Peter Sinkamba suggested that the U.S. Embassy’s health alert was influenced by geopolitical considerations.
He questioned the delay in the embassy’s issuance of the alert since February, while also accusing it of remaining silent on lead poisoning in central Zambia, which he claims is partly attributable to Western mining corporations.
Centre for Environment Justice executive director Maggie Mapalo Mwape told the BBC the pollution was a national disaster that demands immediate and concrete action to mitigate its effects and prevent future occurrences.
She called for decisive action to address this environmental crisis and protect the rights and wellbeing of Zambian citizens.
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