Africa’s toxic spill crisis: China’s environmental influence in Zambia
A tailings dam that collapsed in February at a Chinese-owned copper mine in Zambia, releasing 50,000 tonnes of acidic debris, has led to renewed concerns about unresolved environmental fallout, according to the BBC on December 2.
The incident has intensified scrutiny of the environmental impact of foreign-owned mining operations on Zambia’s ecosystems, including the Kafue River.
Toxic contaminants from the Sino-Metals Leach Zambia (SMLZ) site entered waterways relied upon by more than 11.5 million people, polluting crops and fish.
In response to local and international pressure, the Zambian government imposed a fishing ban and called for compensation from the Sino-Metals, the Chinese copper mine. With Zambia being a copper-rich country, China has been pushing for more direct investments in infrastructure and industrial capacity.
China is one of the largest investors in Africa, aiding in employment and the production of metals as well as natural minerals.
In September, 176 farmers filed for a lawsuit worth £58bn, against Sino-Metals and NFC Africa.
The lawsuit is seen as a potential test case for holding China accountable for its business practices in the country. Beijing has long faced accusations of neocolonialism, with critics arguing that its loans trap African states in debt and enable the extraction of minerals for its own benefit.
Professor Stephen Chan explains, “The Chinese don’t have that much leverage over Zambia because it has a foreign policy that also speaks to the Americans” he adds, “the last thing the Chinese want is to drive the Zambians closer to the Americans.”
For Zambia, the case represents not only a bid to hold foreign companies accountable for the disaster, but also an assertion of national sovereignty and the value of its natural ecosystems. With the rainy season underway, there are concerns that heavy metals remaining in the mud could seep further into the soil and waterways, triggering a second wave of contamination.
The BBC / Maghrebi.org
Want to chase the pulse of North Africa?
Subscribe to receive our FREE weekly PDF magazine
