There has been a spillage of concentrated Copper sulphate solution in to the nearby surrounding mine plant area at Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) in Mufulira.
The spillage of the Copper sulphate concentrates which happened in the afternoon was caused by a pipe burst which was conveying the concentrated copper solution to the main refinery.
And a check by ZANIS at the mine site found MCM employees busy adding lime to the copper sulphate concentrates.
MCM officials talked to by ZANIS disclosed that the transportation of the copper solution to the main refinery has since been halted until the pipe was fixed.
The bursting of the pipe however did not cause any danger to residents living in the surrounding areas as their homes are far from the accident point.
And opposition PF Kankoyo Member of Parliament Percy Chanda said Mopani Cooper Mine should as a matter of urgency put in place stringent monitoring mechanisms that would quickly detect any possible accident at its mine site.
Mr. Chanda added that MCM should be very careful with its operations and take measures to protect both human lives and the environment particularly that the mine experienced an almost fatal incident only last week.
The District Administration in Mufulira has appealed to residents in the border town not to panic but rather remain calm following the spillage today of concentrated copper sulphate solution into the environment at Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) Mufulira division.
And the district administration in the area has also appealed to the Environment Council of Zambia (ECZ) to quickly dispatch a team of experts to the border town to conduct a professional assessment over today’s accident at the mine plant.
District Adminsitrative Officer Mwape Kasanda, who rushed to the accident scene, told ZANIS in an interview that the spillage of the copper concentrates would have been disastrous if the mine had not brought the situation under control on time.
Mr. Kasanda said residents were safe adding that their lives were out of danger.
The spillage of the copper concentrate solution occurred after a pipe taking the copper solution to the main refinery point burst in unexplained circumstances.
Meanwhile, over 2000 residents living in former mine townships houses in Mufulira have expressed their willingness to drag Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) to court following the recent contamination of the water by the mining firm.
The residents have since endorsed their signatures to a petition which is being circulated amongst residents by opposition Patriotic Front (PF) chairman for Mines Yamfwa Mukanga.
Mr. Mukanga told ZANIS in an interview in Mufulira today that he was soliciting for at least 3000 signatures before he could file a suit against Mopani.
Mr. Mukanga, who is also PF Kantanshi Member of Parliament added that the legal suit against MCM would be lodged before the courts of law in the next two weeks.
He further revealed that prominent Lusaka Lawyer Kelvin Bwalya was also willing to represent the 3000 Mufulira residents who were affected by the water contamination.
Mr. Mukanga is claiming an undisclosed amount of money as compensation on behalf of the Mufulira residents.
To hell with Mopani,
In the U.S.A., Environmental Protection Agency, EPA would never spare culprits like these. They impose heavy fines and culprits are responsible for clean up costs. They risk loss of license as well. It is time gvt and ECZ addressed this circus and be put to an end immediately.
but again you are the same people crying for investment in the country..why sayto hell with mpm..when most zambians are employed there…???
\the only thing that zambia and zambians need to state doing is to let investor set their companies in zambia ad have zambia management …they can have few directors ..we need MPM in mufurila ..
Zambia, I am afraid, will have ourselves to blame if we allowed our country to be destroyed and our people to be affected by irresponsible, profit-driven and health-uncaring companies that are left to destroy our nation. Formerly, Gvt Mines Dept with Occupational Health also known as Silicosis or Pneumoconiosis Dept, worked very well maintaining strict and high standards of safety in our mines. ECZ should be allowed to professionally police these companies before we lose our people due to
from #4 effects of environmental contamination. These cases are serious breaches and my Prof in Env Health Dr. Williams, citing EPA, would say, “EPA would pursue you until you clean up and fine you heavily, no matter where you go!” First, it was the Kafue River, then underground water, the Kabwe lead saga and now the mine area! I remember as a high school student visiting Copperbelt Bottling Company, makers of Coca Cola boasting that the quality of drinks was superb because Kitwe had
from #5 high quality water and cuts on purification costs! I suppose at this rate something else not reaching our ears or eyes may be going on at an alarming rate. Wake up Zambia or we shall all perish like fools.
Mwanawasa is really weak!
nama lenda sana!
Chuchu icimutima kwati ni Ndoshi!
Engineer Mukanga Yamfwa, you are doing the right thing. Let these investor be sued one by one and made to pay. We need order in Zambia. But Remember aloso to register as an NCC Memmber, it is not too late
Any law against such carelessness or was it an accident? ECZ should guide the way forward!
If Dr. Chuchu’s negligence led to the death of his own mother and has done likewise to his various relatives, what of those helpless Muf residents? They’ll all die from pollution! Kaput!
ECZ just shut down the entire plant and request that a complete overhaul is done to spare our environment.Look at what happened to BP,EPA didnot care about their profits in Texas, it ordered them to clean up the mess and on top of that they were heavily fined to act as a deterrent and that lead to Sir Browne to resign.Our govt is no fit for purpose in the quest for reporting of their stupid, meaningless economic growth at the expense of your own citizens.Capitalists are shrewed people.
I have always argue like this what does it help Zambians to mine minerals when they cannot even enjoy the profits because they die soon of environmental and air pollution. It was just last year when we talkng about Kabwe town and the lead particles in the air. Are the mine owners serious? Remember what Dr.LPM said to Masebo when she stopped street vending in Lusakas cairo road. “Dont fear to take unpopular decision becuase there is a reward later” ECZ must just move in and close the MCM until ..
ctd.. investigations are completed and those who are responsible are take to task. Otherwise our lives will be meaningless if we cannot protect ourselves.
Do we have any serious laws in Zambia regarding Coporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? This is unacceptable.
It’s very sad that these investers are only interested in making profits at the expense of Zambian lives.Where is the goverement when all these silly things are happening?Where is the Area members of Parliament?Where are the councelors? Where is ECZ? This is violetion of nature.Mufulira formarly commonly known as Mafken,where are your vocal people? Its like Zambians can sale their human dignity for employment.This is what happens when you have leaders who care for their tamies insteady of people