Residents of Nchanga-Nyanji area in Chingola district on the Copperbelt province are appealing to government to relocate them to a suitable location.
The residents have complained that their houses have continued developing huge cracks due to what they termed as uncontrollable blasting operations carried out of breaking ore at Nchanga Open Pit mine by Konkola Copper Mines (KCM).
They said according reports availed to them by environmental experts, the blasting constitute uncontrollable dust and earth movements that end up making cracks on their houses and put everyone’s life at risk.
The residents said they are living in fear as some houses are at a verge of collapsing adding that meetings held with KCM have not yielded any positive outcome.
ZANIS reports that one of the affected residents, Kheda Chilambe said the release of water from dewatering operations which has high concentration of suspended solids which flood their yards when pipes burst, has destroyed the soils in their gardens.
She said KCM has destroyed their houses adding that it is painful noting that no action has been taken from either Government or Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
Another resident Joseph Kasonka said the release of dust emissions especially in the dry season has been another matter of concern that has continued subjecting them to breathing contaminated air.
They have since appealed to President Lungu to quickly intervene in the matter before more lives are lost.
Efforts to get a comment from KCM proved futile as phones went unanswered.
Mining any resource has environmental effects, I do not think government will do anything sustainable, yes they can relocate the residents but what happens to the environment. On the other hand Zambian government needs that cash from the mine
We never experienced these things under ZCCM..and under the UNIP government.Ever since the mines were sold the copperbelt has become a place where water ,soils and air are polluted heavily. The investors have no regard for the lives of the residents and our enviromental agencies are weak and incompetent.
This is just in their imaginaysaaan
@Saran Ramsaran start by learning how to spell!
The mines are responsible not the government.