Nearly 200 residents in northern Zambia have launched an $80 billion lawsuit against two Chinese-owned mining companies over a toxic waste spill that has caused severe environmental and health damage. Court documents reviewed by AFP on Wednesday reveal that the legal action stems from a major incident in February, when a tailings dam burst at a copper mine near Kitwe, about 285 kilometres north of Lusaka, releasing millions of litres of acidic waste into surrounding rivers, streams and farmland.
The spill has sparked widespread criticism of both the Chinese companies involved and the Zambian authorities, with civil society groups and an environmental consultancy alleging that the extent of the contamination was far greater than initially reported. The lawsuit, filed on September 12 on behalf of 176 local residents, accuses Sino-Metals Leach, which owns the tailings dam, and NFC Africa Mining, which owns the land on which the dam was situated, of causing extensive environmental destruction.
According to the complaint, the discharge of highly acidic and toxic substances wiped out aquatic life, destroyed crops and pastures, flooded fields and homes, killed livestock and left families impoverished. Residents also reported a range of immediate health problems, including stomach pains, skin rashes, respiratory issues, vomiting and traces of blood in their urine, which they say were triggered by exposure to the polluted water and soil.
The claimants are seeking $80 billion to be placed in an escrow account as security for environmental restoration and compensation, as well as a monthly allowance of 8,000 Zambian kwacha (about $344) to enable them to relocate temporarily from the affected area. Sino-Metals Leach previously stated that around 50 million litres of waste were discharged, but an environmental firm, Drizit, estimated the figure was roughly 20 times higher.
Drizit, which was hired through a government tender to assess and clean up the site under a contract with Sino-Metals Leach, said its research uncovered “dangerous levels” of cyanide, arsenic, copper, zinc, lead, chromium and cadmium — all linked to serious health risks such as cancer and birth defects, according to the World Health Organisation. The firm alleged that Sino-Metals Leach terminated its contract just one day before its final report was due to be delivered.
Last week, Human Rights Watch called on the Zambian government to investigate the public health consequences of the spill. China Nonferrous Mining Corporation (CNMC), the parent company of Sino-Metals Leach, has not yet responded to AFP’s request for comment.
