"Zambia Drags Mining Firm to Court over Pollution", 6 Jan 2017

Zambia’s environmental regulator on Tuesday revealed that it has commenced legal proceedings against Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), a unit of London-listed Vedanta Resources, over the pollution of drinking water and the environment in one mining town on the Copperbelt Province...[T]he spokesperson of the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) said legal proceedings have been instituted against the firm after investigations found Konkola culpable for the pollution of a river and the environment in Chingola town.  She disclosed that samples taken from seven facilities in the town for analysis revealed that the firm was responsible for the pollution.  The spokesperson however noted that a comprehensive statement will soon be issued on what action would be taken against the firm after all legal proceedings are concluded.  “We have to follow what the law says. We have to follow what the Environmental Act says is the procedure to take for the prosecution of a polluter,”...[T]he government has warned that it will take action against mining firms polluting the environment in areas where they operate...Residents of mining towns complained recently over the quality of water they were drinking after some mining firms discharged effluents in the river...