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A Chinese Mining Company Is Accused of Covering up the Extent of a Major Toxic Spill in Zambia

The spill released 1.5 million tons of toxic materials into the Kafue River, affecting drinking water for over half of Zambia's population, prompting a government-led cleanup effort.

  • A Chinese-owned mining company, Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, is accused of hiding the full scale of a spill contaminating the Kafue River, forcing the city's water supply shutdown, while the company apologized and pledged cleanup aid.
  • Part of a dam holding mine waste collapsed in February, sending toxic waste into waterways linked to the Kafue River, killing fish at least 100 kilometers downstream and polluting riverbank crops and groundwater.
  • Drizit's investigation found its two-month probe identified 1.5 million tons of toxic material released, with more than 3,500 samples showing hazardous pollutants, but Sino-Metals ended the contract one day before the final report.
  • President Hakainde Hichilema called for expert assistance as the Zambian air force and speedboats dropped hundreds of tons of lime into the river, while the U.S. Embassy in Zambia ordered personnel evacuation last month.
  • More than half of Zambia's 21 million people depend on the Kafue for water, while China dominates copper mining amid record-high copper prices this year, raising stakes for recovery and production expansion.
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A Chinese mining company is accused of covering up the extent of a major toxic spill in Zambia

A Chinese-owned mining company has been accused of covering up the extent of a disastrous toxic spill in Zambia that polluted a major river that millions rely on with cyanide and arsenic.

·United States
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Winnipeg Free Press broke the news in Winnipeg, Canada on Monday, September 1, 2025.
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