GOVERNMENT has directed mining firm Sino Metals Leach Zambia Limited to immediately begin environmental restoration works in Chambishi to prevent further contamination of nearby rivers ahead of the rainy season.
Minister of Green Economy and Environment Mike Mposha through the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), has instructed the company to build catch drains, install silt traps and reinforce tailings dam 15 (TD15) to prevent secondary pollution once the rains begin.
The directive follows a preliminary assessment submitted on October 12, 2025, which revealed the urgent need to stabilise tailing dams and stop runoff from polluted sites from reaching water bodies such as the Chambishi stream, Mwambashi and Kafue rivers.
Delivering a ministerial statement in parliament yesterday, Mposha said stabilisation works on TD15 were already 80 percent complete, while dredging and re-engineering of canals were progressing well.
He said the installation of silt traps and completion of the dam works are expected by October 30, 2025.
“The next phase would involve desludging (removing sludge from) the Chambishi Stream and liming affected farmlands to neutralise acidity caused by mining discharge,” he said.
However, he warned residents against returning to contaminated areas or attempting to farm before the land is officially declared safe.
“The affected areas are still unstable and contain dangerous residues that can harm people, animals, and crops,” stated Mposha while urging residents to stay away until ZEMA completes its safety verification.
He further revealed that ongoing water testing across the Copperbelt had shown improving water quality, with heavy metal levels now within the Zambia Bureau of Standards’ safety limits.
The minister further reaffirmed government’s commitment to environmental restoration, transparency and public health, calling on citizens and civil society to work with authorities in ensuring such incidents don’t recur.
“Together, we can protect our people, restore the environment, and make sure this never happens again,” added Mposha.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba October 29, 2025
