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The Zambian government has thrown its support behind a Chinese mining company following a major acid spill, endorsing the miner’s internal environmental assessment that claimed minimal damage, a move that directly contradicts preliminary findings from independent monitors.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
The spill, which originated from a tailings storage facility (TSF) operated by a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co. Ltd. (CNMC), leaked sulphuric acid and other chemical processing agents into the Kafue River. The river is a vital water artery for communities, agriculture, and ecosystems in the region.
In an official statement, Zambia’s Ministry of Green Economy and Environment characterised the company’s response as “satisfactory” and its conclusion that the impact was “successfully contained” as accurate. This official backing comes despite a wave of community outrage and a starkly different assessment from independent observers.
The Bench Marks Foundation, an independent non-profit organisation renowned for monitoring multinational corporate conduct in Africa, had previously flagged critical lapses in environmental safety protocols at CNMC’s Zambian operations. In their earlier reports, the foundation had warned of inadequate risk mitigation and community engagement strategies.
While a full independent hydrological report on this specific incident is still pending, Bench Marks Foundation officials have already publicly questioned the credibility of the miner’s internal assessment. “Corporate self-reporting, especially in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, is inherently conflicted,” a foundation representative stated. “The history of mining incidents shows us that the true extent of ecological damage and the long-term impact on water tables and soil health often only emerges months or years later.”
The government’s position has ignited fierce criticism from civil society groups, who accuse authorities of prioritising a crucial foreign investment relationship over regulatory rigour and public welfare.
“By accepting the company’s report at face value, the government is relinquishing its duty to be an impartial regulator,” said a spokesperson for the Zambia Institute of Environmental Management. “An independent, state-led investigation is the only way to ensure accountability and restore public trust. The people of Zambia deserve transparency, not a corporate whitewash.”
The incident has intensified the ongoing debate over environmental oversight of international mining operations in Africa and the pressure on resource-rich nations to balance economic interests with ecological and community safety.
