Toxic spill fallout: Zambians demand billions from Chinese mining giant

Zambia is grappling with the aftermath of one of its worst environmental disasters, as outrage mounts over a massive toxic spill from a Chinese-owned copper mine that polluted the Kafue River and devastated communities.
The February incident occurred when a dam at Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, a subsidiary of China’s state-owned China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group, collapsed — releasing toxic slurry laden with cyanide, arsenic, and heavy metals. The spill contaminated drinking water for millions, killed fish over 100 kilometers downstream, and destroyed crops. While the company and Zambian authorities claimed the situation was under control, a report by South Africa-based environmental firm Drizit suggests otherwise. The firm, initially contracted by Sino-Metals, estimates 1.5 million tons of toxic material were released — 30 times more than officially acknowledged. Drizit’s contract was abruptly terminated before it could submit its final report.
Now, over 150 households are demanding $200 million in damages and $80 billion in reparations. Another group comprising 47 households seeks $220 million and a $9.7 billion environmental fund. Local farmers say they received just $84 in compensation — an amount they described as ‘insulting’. Despite apologies and lime-dispersal efforts by Sino-Metals, residents and experts warn of long-term health risks, including cancer and birth defects. The United States and Finland have told its citizens to evacuate from the area. As copper prices soar, Zambia’s regulatory response to this crisis is seen as a litmus test for its mining future — and its accountability to affected citizens. Legal battles are expected to escalate.