11 Oct 2025
Zambia: Tailing spill from Chinese-invested facilities already creating long-term contamination in local food chain, expert says
Summary
Date Reported: 22 Sep 2025
Location: Zambia
Companies
China Nonferrous Metal Mining (CNMC) - Parent Company , Sino-Metals Leach Zambia - SubsidiaryProjects
Sino Metals Leach Zambia Copper Mine(s) in Zambia (Mine Name Unknown) - OperationAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Community: ( Number unknown - Zambia , Mining , Gender not reported ) , Ecosystem: ( Number unknown - Zambia , Mining , Gender not reported )Issues
Access to Water , Water pollution , Clean, Healthy & Sustainable Environment , Personal Health , Right to FoodSource type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 22 Sep 2025
Location: Zambia
Companies
Vedanta Resources Limited - Joint venture participant , Konkola Copper Mines (Joint venture between Vedanta Resources Limited ((79.4%) and ZCCM Investments Holdings (20.6%)) - Parent Company , ZCCM Investments - Joint venture participantProjects
Nchanga - OperationAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Community: ( Number unknown - Location unknown - Sector unknown , Gender not reported ) , Ecosystem: ( Number unknown - Location unknown - Sector unknown , Gender not reported )Issues
Access to Water , Water pollution , Clean, Healthy & Sustainable Environment , Air pollution , Air pollution , Personal HealthResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRC
Source type: News outlet
"The communities paying the price for Zambia’s toxic mining disaster", Dialogue Earth, 22 September 2025
[...] climate expert [...] says heavy-metal contamination is likely already affecting the food chain across the Copperbelt region and the Kafue basin.
“There will be heavy metal contamination in the entire ecosystem. Its functioning has been disturbed and badly compromised,” [...].
Levels of heavy metal in local food [...] now exceed World Health Organization limits.
[...] “The food chain is contaminated through the water; heavy metals stay in the environment for a very long time,” [...].