GOVERNMENT has finally rolled up its sleeves and launched the long-awaited clean-up of polluted water bodies and land in Chambishi, with Minister of Water Development and Sanitation Collins Nzovu making it clear that the exercise is about citizens, not corporations.
Speaking during the launch of the environmental restoration exercise in Kalusale area on Saturday, Nzovu said the mission goes beyond fixing damage caused by the 2025 Sino Metals tailings dam incident, insisting that it is about protecting lives and livelihoods.
“This is not about Sino Metals, it’s about the people of Zambia. This exercise must succeed,” Nzovu said.
The clean-up, which will be undertaken by local firm Targus Limited, will focus on restoring contaminated soils and cleaning major water bodies, including the Mwambashi, Chambishi and Kafue rivers.
Authorities also plan to restock fish once the ecosystems are fully rehabilitated.
Nzovu called on citizens, civil society organisations and local communities to take an active role in monitoring the process, warning that government alone cannot ensure accountability.
“Monitoring is for everyone. If you notice gaps, raise them,” he said, adding that regulators like the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) will provide strict oversight.
Meanwhile, Sino Metals Chairman Wang Jingjun said the company remains committed to repairing the environmental damage, stating that the launch marks a renewed push towards full restoration.
“This event reinforces our commitment to complete the journey to restoration and remediation,” he said.
And Montgomery Mulengeshi, director at Targus Limited, described the exercise as a turning point for affected communities.
“This is a promise of environmental recovery and restored livelihoods,” Mulengeshi said,.
ZEMA has since pledged to keep a close eye on the process, with quarterly reports expected to ensure transparency and accountability as the country works to heal one of its recent environmental scars.
Early last year, a toxic mine effluent spill from Sino-Metals Tailings Dam in Chambishi, contaminated the Kafue River.
The spill killed fish and posed a serious threat to the main water source for Kitwe and Kalulushi.
The effluent flowed into the Mwambashi Stream and nearby farms before entering the Kafue River, which caused anxiety among residents concerned about the safety of water supplied by the Nkana Water Supply and Sanitation Company.
Kalemba March 23, 2026
