A CATASTROPHIC acid spill at a Chinese-owned copper mine in northern Zambia has polluted the Kafue River, threatening the livelihoods and water supply of millions of people. Authorities and environmental groups warn the long-term impact of the toxic leak could devastate communities and ecosystems that rely on the country’s most vital waterway.
According to AP reporting, the spill occurred on February 18 when a tailings dam at the Sino-Metals Leach Zambia mine collapsed. The breach released an estimated 50 million litres of highly acidic waste containing dissolved solids and heavy metals into a stream that feeds the Kafue River. Investigators from the Engineering Institution of Zambia confirmed the extent of the contamination, which has been detected over 100 kilometres downstream from the spill site.
‘Environmental disaster of catastrophic consequences’
Environmental activist Chilekwa Mumba described the disaster as one of Zambia’s worst environmental crises. ‘This is an environmental disaster really of catastrophic consequences,’ Mumba told AP. Dead fish have washed up along riverbanks, and nearby crops and fishponds have been destroyed.
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema labelled the incident a national crisis. He has called for international experts to assist in mitigating the disaster, warning that the spill poses a serious threat to both people and wildlife. The Kafue River runs more than 1,500 kilometres through Zambia, providing water for nearly 60 percent of the country’s 20 million residents.
The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation said the pollution had ‘devastating consequences,’ including widespread destruction of crops and concerns over groundwater contamination.
Communities devastated as livelihoods vanish
Sean Cornelius, a local resident living near the Kafue River, described the scene as apocalyptic. ‘Before February 18, this was a vibrant, living river,’ he said. ‘Now everything is dead. It’s like a totally dead river—overnight, it died.’
The spill forced the shutdown of the water supply to Kitwe, a major city of 700,000 people. Farmers like Juliet Balaya have seen their livelihoods wiped out, with contaminated water ruining crops and fishponds.
In response, the Zambian air force has been deployed to drop tonnes of lime into the river to neutralise the acid. Speedboats have also been used to distribute lime along affected areas, though officials warn the damage may already be irreversible.
Government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa confirmed that Sino-Metals Leach Zambia will bear the full cost of cleanup operations. Zhang Peiwen, chairman of Sino-Metals, issued a public apology, calling the spill a ‘wake-up call’ for the company and the wider mining industry. He pledged to ‘restore the affected environment as quickly as possible.’
Renewed concerns over Chinese mining practices
China dominates Zambia’s copper mining industry and has often faced criticism over environmental and labour practices. The country is also heavily indebted to China, owing more than $4bn, with restructuring talks ongoing since Zambia defaulted on repayments in 2020.
The acid spill has sparked renewed anger among Zambians, many accusing Chinese mining companies of negligence. ‘They don’t seem to have any regard for environmental protection,’ said Mweene Himwinga, an environmental engineer. ‘At the end of the day, we Zambians are left to suffer. This is the only land we have.’
Adding to the outrage, Zambian authorities uncovered a smaller acid leak from another Chinese-owned mine just days after the Sino-Metals disaster. Two Chinese managers were arrested after the mine continued operating despite being ordered to halt. Tragically, a worker died after falling into the acid at that site.
Both mines have since been shut down following government intervention.
Zambia demands accountability
Zambia’s government has promised to hold those responsible accountable. But for many residents, the damage is already done. Farmers and fishers who depend on the Kafue River for survival are facing an uncertain future.
‘We need real change,’ said Ibrahima Ba, a local farmer. ‘A foreign company has destroyed our lives, and we need our leaders to protect us.’
Despite the ongoing cleanup efforts, the long-term environmental and economic consequences of the acid spill may take years to address.
Credit: Africabriefing
