Zambia Rejects US Pollution Claims Amid Toxic Spill Controversy

The Zambian government dismisses US warnings about health risks following a toxic spill, claiming no danger exists and urging calm.

The Zambian government has officially refuted assertions made by the US embassy regarding hazardous pollution in the Copperbelt region, which stemmed from a toxic spill at the Sino-Metals mine earlier this year. On Wednesday, the US embassy raised alarms, recommending the evacuation of personnel in Kitwe and surrounding areas due to apprehensions about "widespread contamination of water and soil" linked to the incident.

In February, a tailings dam at the Sino-Metals mine collapsed after heavy rainfall, releasing toxic waste into the Kafue River—an essential drinking water source. The embassy indicated that recent findings revealed the presence of hazardous substances, which may pose a health threat both through contaminated soil and potentially airborne toxins.

Zambian government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa contested these claims, stating that laboratory tests indicated normal pH levels, asserting the water was safe for consumption. Mweetwa emphasized that there were no immediate public health concerns or significant risks to agriculture and the environment, urging against undue panic.

The Sino-Metals mine, a subsidiary of the state-owned China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group, previously committed to compensating affected communities and working on environmental restoration. Environmental Minister Mike Mposha stated that the government had been proactive since the spill and continued to communicate regularly with the public, adding that the water quality complied with World Health Organization standards.

Critics, including opposition Green Party leader Peter Sinkamba, have accused the US embassy of politicizing the situation, questioning why it took so long to issue warnings and arguing that silence over lead poisoning linked to Western mining interests should also have received attention.

Maggie Mapalo Mwape, executive director of the Centre for Environment Justice, described the incident as a national disaster, calling for immediate actions to address the pollution and safeguard the health and rights of Zambians.