Environmental Crisis: Kafue River Contaminated by Mining Acid Spill in Zambia
Zambia’s Kafue River has been significantly contaminated by an acid spill from a collapsed mine tailings dam, raising urgent environmental and economic concerns for millions of people. The spill, which occurred on February 18, has devastated local agriculture and fish populations, prompting health advisories against consuming fish from the river. The long-term consequences of this incident remain unclear.
Authorities and environmentalists in Zambia are expressing significant concern regarding the long-term repercussions of an acid spill that has contaminated the Kafue River, an essential water source for millions. The contamination, initially detected over 100 kilometers downstream, has incited fears of widespread ecological damage, affecting both water quality and local communities reliant on this river.
The incident transpired on February 18, when a tailings dam at a copper mine collapsed in northern Zambia. According to the Engineering Institution of Zambia, this breach released approximately 50 million liters of waste, including concentrated acid, heavy metals, and dissolved solids, into a nearby stream that flows into the Kafue River.
Environmental activist Chilekwa Mumba criticized the event, labelling it an environmental disaster with severe repercussions for communities that depend on the river for their sustenance. He highlighted the adverse impacts on local agriculture, as many farmers were approaching harvest season. “What they had invested in has been washed away,” Mumba stated, indicating the extensive damage inflicted on soil and crops.
Following the spill, alarming images surfaced showing dead fish along the riverbanks, while local farmers reported widespread destruction of their crops, especially maize and groundnuts. The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock issued a public advisory on February 23, advising against the consumption of any fish from the Kafue River or affected streams.
Juliet Bulaya, a local farmer, shared her heartbreaking experience of witnessing the toxic waste enter her fish pond, resulting in significant financial loss. “I just stood in agony, wondering what I would do about the money I spent on the project,” she lamented.
Although remediation efforts were undertaken quickly, with the breach repaired by February 19, the full extent of the damage to the environment, economy, and the local populace remains uncertain.
In summary, the acid spill from a Chinese-owned mine has resulted in severe contamination of the Kafue River, raising substantial environmental and economic concerns. Local communities, particularly farmers, are facing devastating losses due to the spill, which has impacted their livelihoods and agricultural viability. While immediate remediation efforts have been implemented, the long-term effects of the incident are yet to be fully understood.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
