The Zambian authorities has dismissed claims of harmful air pollution within the Copperbelt mining area, following security issues raised by the US embassy.
On Wednesday, the US embassy issued a well being alert, ordering the speedy withdrawal of its personnel in Kitwe city and close by areas as a consequence of issues of “widespread contamination of water and soil” linked to a February spill on the Sino-Metals mine.
The spill occurred when a tailings dam, used to retailer poisonous waste and heavy metals, collapsed into the Kafue River, a key consuming water supply, following heavy rain.
The US embassy mentioned there was new data that confirmed “the extent of hazardous and carcinogenic substances”.
It warned that past the “contaminated water and soil, contaminants from the spilled mine tailings may additionally turn out to be airborne, posing a well being risk if inhaled”.
Zambia’s authorities spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa hit again, saying the “laboratory outcomes present that PH ranges have returned to regular” within the space and the water was secure to drink.
Mweetwa mentioned there have been now not any severe implications for public well being, water security, agriculture or the atmosphere.
“There’s, subsequently, completely no have to press the ‘panic button’ at the moment to alarm the nation and the worldwide group.”
Sino-Metals Leach Zambia mine is a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Metallic Mining Group, which is owned by the Chinese language authorities.
The BBC has requested Sino-Metals for remark.
On the time of the spill, Sino-Metals pledged to compensate the affected communities and restore the atmosphere.
The spill affected aquatic life in addition to farmers who use the water to irrigate their crops.
Inexperienced Financial system Minister Mike Mposha mentioned the federal government had been proactive since February and was persevering with to replace the general public, whereas affected communities have been compensated.
Minister of Water Growth Collins Nzovu mentioned the federal government has been continuously testing the water, and that it met World Well being Group requirements.
Opposition Inexperienced Get together chief Peter Sinkamba mentioned the US embassy’s well being alert was a part of geopolitics.
He questioned why it had taken the embassy since February to challenge the alert, whereas accusing it of holding quiet on the lead poisoning in central Zambia that partly traces its roots to Western mining giants.
Centre for Surroundings Justice govt director Maggie Mapalo Mwape informed the BBC the air pollution was a nationwide catastrophe that calls for speedy and concrete motion to mitigate its results and forestall future occurrences.
She known as for decisive motion to handle this environmental disaster and shield the rights and wellbeing of Zambian residents.
