OVER 100 hectares of maize and vegetable fields have been destroyed by Sulphur Dioxide emitted from Chambeshi Copper Smelter along the Kitwe-Chingola roads on the Copperbelt.
The affected crops include beans, groundnuts, maize in early stage, sweet potatoes and pumpkin plants among others.
The crops have dried beyond redemption to the dismay of the farmers who have been left with no food especially relish as they depend on the affected vegetables.
And the affected farmers have appealed to government to strictly compel the Chinese owned Copper Smelter to compensate them for their expense on the destroyed crops.
The farmers also appealed on government to compel the company to curb the emission of Sulphur Dioxide, which is locally called as ‘ Senta’ by the local community , so that farmers around the Copper Smelting Company can still continue with their agriculture activities.
And Brian Bwalya, one of the affected farmers said the investment that has been made by Chambeshi Copper Smelter in the area will not be useful if it will destroy agriculture which is the main livelihood of the people in the area.
Mr. Bwalya also complained that the Sulphur dioxide being emitted was a health hazard to the people especially the children.
He further observed that the company was not employing people from the area but was instead recruiting people from outside the district.
But when contacted for a comment, Chambeshi Copper Smelter manager for Environment, safety and Health Department Robison Mubita said the company was aware of the damage to the crop but was still assessing it to determine whether the damage was caused by Sulphur Dioxide or the poor soil.
ZANIS
Zoona this Enviromental Manager is dull, how can he say that he still assessing whether the damage was caused by sulphur dioxide or the POOR SOIL, people have been farming in that area for a long time and he is telling us that the soil has become so bad that it’s even damaging crops.
Can you replace this Manager coz he doesn’t know what he is talking about.
Was environmental assessment properly done, or was it like one cement company in Ndola where a female cabinet minister issued threats to the then ECZ (now ZEMA) that if they don’t approve the EIA she will take action against them?
ZEMA please make a visit to CCS.
Acid rain. Mixture of sulphur dioxide and water is sulphuric acid. That has been going on as long as we have been mining copper in Zambia. Not to mention the health hazards to humans and animals. When are we going to wake up?
can the manager see this please
Sources of Acid Rain
Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides dissolve very easily in water and can be carried very far by the wind. As a result, the two compounds can travel long distances where they become part of the rain, sleet, snow, and fog that we experience on certain days.
Human activities are the main cause of acid rain like mining
They was a documentary video posted on LT sometime back regarding the same Chingola mines and government did nothing other than one man based in Chingola with the help of Swedish lobbyist to force the mine on safety issues and the video shows many poor miners including their families keep on suffering because of such pollution. Why hasn’t anyone to date followed up or in charge of health & safety and the environment from the government…NON….Hope this time info lands on receptive and action ears…anyone PLEASE
If the Chinese have failed to control smoke engulfing their own capital city Bejin, how do you expect them to care about farmers in Chambishi and what happens to crops?
Chinese are the worst poluters of the environment in the world and they do it with impunity in the name of economic development.
These farmer guys should be compensated. Thats why this guy is looking for scapegoats of poor soil. We all know what that sulphur thing has done to Kankoyo township where the only plant that can grow is ulunsonga
maybe we should just mobilise ourselves and take the law into our own hands. this ‘senta’ complaint has been there for sometime now and no one in govt. (previous and present) seem to care cos they have not lost any of their beloved ones through these pollutions. lets unite and fight on our own.
Infact, why do we invest so much in mining activities ? Zambia is a manageable country with only few millions of people with alot of resources. Mining iletushafye nifipompo which we can never reserve – ukonaula fye icalo cesu for ever. lets us consider alternative measures if we are to reach higher levels of development.
Hi, just wanted to say i liked this article.
Very nice pattern and excellent written content , nothing else we want : D.