Zambia’s Kafue River ‘Dies Overnight’ After Devastating Acidic Waste Spill from Chinese-Owned Mine

A devastating environmental disaster has struck Zambia’s Kafu River, the country’s most vital waterway, following a massive acidic waste spill from a Chinese-owned mine.

The incident, which occurred on February 18, has sent shockwaves through the nation, with authorities and environmentalists warning of long-term consequences that could affect millions of people

The disaster began when a tailings dam at the Sino-Metals Leach Zambia mine in the north of the country collapsed, releasing approximately 50 million liters of highly acidic waste containing dissolved solids and heavy metals into a stream that feeds the Kafue River.

The spill has been described as an environmental disaster of catastrophic consequences by local environmental activist Chilekwa Mumba.

The contamination has been detected at least 100 kilometers downstream, with dead fish washing up on the riverbanks and nearby crops destroyed.

The Kafue River, which stretches over 1,500 kilometers through the heart of Zambia, previously supplied drinking water to about a quarter of the country’s 20 million people.

The river’s ecosystem is now severely compromised, threatening the livelihoods of communities that depend on it for fishing and agriculture.

In an attempt to mitigate the damage, the Zambian government has deployed its air force to drop hundreds of tons of lime into the river to neutralize the acid. Speedboats have also been used to apply lime along the affected areas.

Sino-Metals Leach Zambia has been held responsible for the cleanup costs, with its chairman, Zhang Peiwen, issuing a public apology and pledging to restore the affected environment as quickly as possible.

The incident has reignited concerns over Chinese mining practices in Zambia, where China is the dominant player in the copper mining industry.

Zambia is heavily indebted to China with over $4 billion in debt and has faced criticism for its reliance on Chinese mining companies, which have been accused of neglecting environmental and labor regulations.

As the situation continues to unfold, international attention is focused on the long-term impact of this environmental disaster and the measures being taken to address it.

The Zambian government’s efforts to hold mining companies accountable and ensure environmental protection are under scrutiny, with many calling for stricter regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.