In what many are calling one of the worst environmental catastrophes in recent Zambian history, a toxic acid spill from a Chinese-owned copper mine has left the once-vibrant Kafue River devastated, sparking outrage and fear across the country.
The spill occurred on February 18, when a tailings dam—used to store acidic mining waste—collapsed at the Sino-Metals Leach Zambia site, releasing nearly 50 million liters of hazardous material into a connected stream. That stream flows directly into the Kafue River, a vital waterway that stretches over 1,500 kilometers through Zambia, touching the lives of millions.
The toxic waste, containing concentrated acids, heavy metals, and other pollutants, has already traveled over 100 kilometers downstream. The aftermath is grim. Dead fish now float along the riverbanks, crops have withered near the shores, and birdlife has vanished. For those living nearby, the transformation has been heartbreaking.
“Before that day, the river gave us everything—food, water, life,” said Sean Cornelius, a resident of a riverside community. “Now it’s lifeless. A dead river, overnight.”
This is no minor event. The Kafue River is the backbone of Zambia’s ecosystem and economy. Over 60% of Zambia’s 20 million people reside in its basin. It serves as a lifeline for drinking water, fishing, agriculture, and industrial needs. The recent spill even forced a full water shutdown in Kitwe, a major city with over 700,000 residents.
Environmental experts are calling it a ticking time bomb, not just for surface waters but for groundwater contamination too. The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation has expressed serious concern that the acidic waste could seep into underground aquifers, worsening the crisis.
President Hakainde Hichilema has acknowledged the gravity of the situation and called for international experts to assist. The government has already deployed the air force to drop lime into the river in an attempt to neutralize the acidity. Speed boats patrol the waters, spreading neutralizing agents in a race against irreversible ecological damage.
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The mine responsible—Sino-Metals Leach Zambia—is majority owned by China Nonferrous Metals Industry Group, a state-backed Chinese entity. Zhang Peiwen, chairman of the company, has publicly apologized and promised full cooperation with the government’s cleanup efforts. “This disaster has rung a big alarm for Sino-Metals Leach and the mining industry,” he said at a recent meeting with government officials.
But not everyone is convinced the apology goes far enough. Many Zambians see this as a symbol of a broader issue: foreign investors, particularly in the mining sector, neglecting environmental safety in their pursuit of profit.
“This isn’t just about one river,” said Mweene Himwinga, an environmental engineer who attended the meeting with Zhang. “This is about how little some investors value the land and the people who live on it. It’s a glaring example of negligence.”
The tragedy deepened days after the initial spill when another acid leak was discovered at a separate Chinese-operated mine in the Copperbelt. This second incident allegedly went unreported until authorities intervened. Local police revealed that a worker had died after falling into the acidic waste, and that the mine continued to operate despite government orders to halt all activities. Two Chinese managers have since been arrested.
Both facilities are now under suspension, as Zambia begins to reckon not only with the cleanup but also with the oversight failures that allowed these disasters to happen. China’s heavy presence in Zambia’s copper industry has long been contentious. While the minerals are essential for global technology, Zambians are increasingly questioning the environmental and social costs.
With over $4 billion in debt owed to China and a legacy of loan restructuring, Zambia finds itself at a crossroads: balancing economic partnerships with national well-being. As the Kafue River struggles to heal, so too does the trust between Zambians and those who exploit the country’s resources.
“This is the only land we have,” Himwinga said. “If we don’t protect it, who will?”
