KCM Faces Action Over Kafue River and Chingola Water Pollution

Government has directed Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to immediately stop discharging effluent from its Tailings Leach Plant into the environment following pollution of the Chingola and Mushishima Streams and the Kafue River on September 28, 2026.

Green Economy and Environment Minister Gilbert Siame says KCM has also been ordered to remove visible tailings material from the affected areas and clean up the polluted water bodies.

Dr Siame says the mining company must conduct a comprehensive assessment of all Pollution Control Dams, tailings pipelines and related infrastructure to establish the cause of the pollution.

He says KCM is further required to undertake clean-up and remediation of the affected water bodies.

In a statement issued to ZNBC News, Dr Siame said Government has also issued a Cost Order requiring KCM to meet laboratory analysis and related costs, in line with the Polluter Pays Principle.

He said weekly monitoring of water quality will continue, while further tests are being conducted to determine the levels of heavy metals in the affected water bodies.

Dr Siame said the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) received a notification from KCM's Nchanga Mine on September 28, reporting discolouration of the Kafue River, which the company attributed to a pipe leak and an overflow from a Pollution Control Dam.

He said a joint inspection by ZEMA, Mulonga Water Supply and Sanitation Company and KCM confirmed that the discharge had entered the Chingola Stream, Mushishima Stream and Kafue River.

Dr Siame said preliminary results showed elevated turbidity and conductivity at the confluence of the Mushishima Stream and Kafue River, while pH levels remained within acceptable limits.

He said Government is consulting stakeholders on possible penalties against the polluter and has called on mining companies to operate responsibly and comply with environmental regulations.