'Zambia Civil Society Call to Action: Unacceptable Environmental and Community Devastation’ 21 March 2025

On March 11, 2025, Civil Society Organisations, Non-governmental Organisations, Alliances and Networks working in the environment and climate space, participated in the Water Pollution Indaba convened by the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development, and the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment. This event was a response to the water contamination crisis that began on February 18, 2025, on the Mwambashi Stream and Kafue River after a tailings dam collapsed at the Sino Metal leach Limited. The Water Pollution Indaba held in Kitwe, Copperbelt Province brought together stakeholders to discuss the issue of water pollution on the Copperbelt and Zambia as a whole. While we appreciate the government's efforts to address this critical issue, we emphasize that more concrete actions are needed to prevent environmental disasters like the Chambishi dam collapse.

The Civil Society notes that on February 20, 2025, Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Company, based in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province, shut down its water supply after learning that a tailings dam at Sino Metal Tailing had burst. The contamination, which discharged into the Mwambashi Stream a tributary of the Kafue River contained heavy metals such as iron, manganese, copper, and cobalt, as well as dangerously low pH levels. Shortly after, another disaster occurred when the tailings dam at Rong Xin Limited burst, spilling effluent into the Luela Stream, another tributary of the Kafue River. In response, authorities comprising of the Zambia Air Force(ZAF), Zambia Police(ZP), Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit(DMMU) have sprayed lime over a 100-kilometer stretch of the Kafue River to neutralize the acid plumes and prevent further contamination. Despite these efforts, the acid plumes have travelled downstream, reaching Ngabwe and Mumbwa districts, more than 400 kilometers away from the source of the pollution.

…As Civil society, we therefore recommend for following to prevent similar disasters and promote sustainable mining practices: 1. Strengthen Environmental Regulations: Review and amend existing laws and policies to ensure they are robust and effective in protecting the environment. 2. Increase Transparency and Accountability: Implement measures to ensure transparency in environmental decision-making, including public participation and access to information. 3. Promote Sustainable Mining Practices: Encourage mining companies to adopt sustainable and responsible practices, including environmental impact assessments and rehabilitation plans. 4. Establishment of an Environmental court: We urge the Zambian government to create a fast-track environmental crimes court to hold polluters accountable and safeguard the health of our people and the sustainability of our environment.