By Abbas Nazil
A Chinese state-owned mining company has dismissed one of this year’s most serious environmental disasters in Zambia as insignificant, despite mounting evidence of illness, lost livelihoods and legal action from affected communities.
China Nonferrous Mining Corp. told the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that the February collapse of a waste pit at its subsidiary Sino-Metals’ copper mine in Zambia only caused “partial leakage” and did not significantly harm the environment or residents.
However, videos from the spill show torrents of toxic sludge laced with heavy metals flooding rivers and streams, killing fish and contaminating farmland.
Residents say they can no longer use groundwater for drinking, bathing or farming, with many reporting symptoms including rashes, chest tightness, blood in urine and blurred vision after exposure.
A lawsuit filed on behalf of residents alleges Sino-Metals tried to silence complaints, threatening villagers with surveillance, drone monitoring and phone tapping to discourage them from speaking out.
The company also allegedly forced some residents to sign legal waivers in exchange for meagre compensation of \$150 to \$850, releasing the firm from further liability.
Experts warn the spill released 30 times more toxic waste than initially reported, containing arsenic, uranium and lead at levels that could cause cancers, birth defects and chronic diseases.
Independent studies commissioned by the Finnish embassy and Sino-Metals’ own consultant confirm dangerous levels of contamination, contradicting company claims and Zambian officials’ assurances that waterways had returned to normal.
Civil society groups accuse both the company and the government of downplaying the scale of the disaster, while the U.S. embassy issued warnings to citizens to avoid the area due to health threats.
Affected residents are demanding billions in reparations, arguing they face a future of poisoned water, ruined farmland and mounting medical bills, with no other option but to survive on contaminated resources.