Zambian Farmers Sue Chinese Mining Company Over Toxic Spill, Seek $220 Million in Damages
Udumbara
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Dozens of Zambian farmers have filed a lawsuit against Chinese mining company Sino-Metals Leach (SML), seeking $220 million in damages following a massive toxic spill earlier this year that severely contaminated land and water resources.
The incident occurred on Feb. 18 near Kitwe, in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province, when a waste dam at the SML-operated mine burst. The company initially estimated the volume of the mining effluent released to be around 50,000 metric tons. However, a subsequent assessment by Drizit, an independent clean-up firm contracted by Zambia’s environmental agency, found the actual volume to be at least 30 times higher than SML’s initial figure.
Drizit reported that the spill contained hazardous concentrations of cyanide, arsenic, copper, and cadmium. According to the World Health Organization, exposure to these substances is associated with serious health risks, including cancer and birth defects.
The mine’s proximity to Kitwe—Zambia’s second-largest city with a population of approximately 700,000—amplified the fallout. Following the dam failure, the city’s water supply was immediately shut down due to contamination fears. The toxic waste flowed into the Kafue River, a major source of drinking water and irrigation for more than half of Zambia’s 21 million residents, triggering significant environmental and public health concerns.
The group of approximately 50 farmers bringing the lawsuit is demanding compensation to cover an independent environmental impact assessment, comprehensive health evaluations, and the immediate relocation of affected residents until full reparations can be made.
They argue that the toxic spill has made farming impossible, caused health problems, and contaminated land and water sources.
Sino-Metals Leach, a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group, has denied the allegations. In a statement to Africaeye, the company said it had complied with all rehabilitation and restoration requirements under existing Zambian regulations.
Chinese copper mining operations in Zambia are a key component of the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing’s flagship global infrastructure and investment strategy.
Zambia, for its part, has embraced Chinese investment as it aims to triple its annual copper output to three million tons by 2031, in response to surging global demand for minerals used in batteries and electric vehicles.
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