The Zambian government has dismissed the US embassy's health alert regarding contamination in the Copperbelt mining area following a toxic spill, asserting that water safety has been restored and the situation is under control.
Zambia Rejects US Health Alert Over Toxic Spill Claims
Zambia Rejects US Health Alert Over Toxic Spill Claims
Zambian officials refute US embassy’s pollution worries tying to a mining accident in the Copperbelt.
The Zambian government has firmly rejected health concerns voiced by the United States embassy regarding pollution in the Copperbelt region, which have arisen following a toxic spill at the Sino-Metals mine. The US embassy issued a health alert this Wednesday, ordering the withdrawal of its personnel from Kitwe and surrounding areas, citing fears of "widespread contamination of water and soil" linked to the incident in February.
This alarming event unfolded when a tailings dam, a structure for storing toxic waste, collapsed into the Kafue River—an essential drinking water source—during substantial rainfall. Shortly thereafter, the US embassy claimed they received new evidence indicating that hazardous and carcinogenic substances might be present in the environment. They warned that these pollutants could become airborne, heightening health risks upon inhalation.
Zambia's government spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa, countered these claims by stating that laboratory analyses revealed that pH levels in the area have stabilized and the water is now deemed safe for consumption. He emphasized that there are no longer any significant public health threats, nor concerns for agricultural productivity or environmental integrity, and urged against creating panic amongst citizens and the international community.
The Sino-Metals Leach Zambia mine is a subsidiary of the China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group, which is state-owned by China. The BBC has reached out to Sino-Metals for further comments regarding the portfolio of the spill incident. Following the contamination, the mining company had previously committed to compensating the impacted communities and restoring the environmental damage.
The spill adversely affected local aquatic ecosystems and posed a challenge for farmers relying on the contaminated water for crop irrigation. Green Economy Minister Mike Mposha reasserted that the government's response has been proactive since February. He indicated that ongoing testing affirms that water quality meets World Health Organization standards.
On the other side of the political spectrum, opposition Green Party leader Peter Sinkamba criticized the US embassy’s timing, questioning why it took several months to issue the alert while seemingly ignoring prior lead poisoning incidents attributed to Western mining companies.
Maggie Mapalo Mwape, executive director of the Centre for Environment Justice, pointed out that the pollution represents a national crisis that necessitates immediate and concrete measures to mitigate its effects and safeguard the health and rights of Zambian citizens.
