Kafue River of Zambia hit by mining spill, disrupting water supplies to 500,000 people
Mar 11, 2025 #Zambia #KafueRiver #ZambiaMiningDisaster
Zambian authorities have warned against fishing in the Kafue River, which has become hig
Mar 11, 2025 #Zambia #KafueRiver #ZambiaMiningDisaster
Zambian authorities have warned against fishing in the Kafue River, which has become highly acidic. A dam used for water and waste storage from mining operations broke last month, releasing over 50 million litres of acidic effluent into the river. The spill contained heavy metals like copper and cobalt, causing severe environmental damage. Activists blame decades of mining along Zambia’s Copperbelt for the destruction. The disaster has disrupted water supplies to 500,000 people in Kitwe. Authorities are trying to prevent further contamination by spraying lime over 100 km of the river.
Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa reports.
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