Complaints of both water and air pollution by residents near Solwezi based First Quantum Minerals – FQMs Kansanshi mine, are on the increase, with no clear pro-active actions being taken by government authorities.
The latest complaints have been made by resident of Ngambe in Solwezi District of Northwestern Province who have complained of water pollution caused by Kansanshi Mine and its sub-Contractors.
Confirming to the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, North Western Province Permanent secretary said his office has continued receiving complaints from local people regarding water and air pollution with the recent complaint from Mbonge village on located on eastern side of the solwezi.
North Western Permanent Secretary Gladson Katambi has since urged mining firms in the area to protect the local people from water and air pollution caused from mining and other activities. A check by ZBT shows that laws are already there but there seems to be lack of zeal in enforcement and effecting relevant penalties.
“Yesterday, people came and complained of the certain company that has been sub-contracted by [FQM] Kansanshi mine of prospecting the area, and because of the activities they are pushing the materials into the stream where people get water for from.” He said.
The PS mentioned that the water is currently in the laboratories adding that government will ensure that all measures are put in place to ensure that the people are protected.
Katambi explained that the similar situation happened in Lumwana where the mine was told to provide water bowsers, adding that the people are now drinking the water from the bowsers supplied or provided by the mines.
“It is very difficult to stop these activities because they are all over prospecting in this province and when they are drilling, they use chemicals which end up in the streams where people get water from so we are always alert so that we don’t expose our people.” He said.
Katambi said they are trying by all means to sensitize the people to immediately report such things to relevant authorities so that they don’t get exposed.
Some residents have accused local Health and Environmental officials in Zambia of being passive and will only come to life when lives are lost. When people are being poisoned by drinking contaminated water, or when chest complications in future are experienced, that’s when they want to come and diagnose the problems.
