Nchanga Member of Parliament Wilbur Simusa has said the continued pollution of the Kafue River by Konkola Copper Mines is irritating.
Mr. Simusa said as an MP affected by such reports, he will put his foot down to ensure that the act is stopped by the country’s biggest mining company.
He said it is disappointing that the government seems to be dragging its feet in addressing such an important issue.
The parliamentarian explained to QFM NEWS that with the continued pollution of the river, people’s lives were at stake.
Mr Simusa said the failure to find a lasting solution to the continued pollution of the Kafue river, a source of water for many residents of the copper rich province, will be disastrous to the nation.
The lawmaker stated that he will engage different stakeholders on how best they can help in avoiding the spillage of chemicals into the river.
KCM was last week reportedly to have again contaminated the Kafue river for the third time.
But KCM deputy chief executive officer Jeyakumar Janakaraj said there was no pollution that happened in the Kafue river.
In an interview over the weekend, Mr. Janakaraj said the normal protocols are followed for any discharges that happen due to interruptions in the operations.
Mr. Janakaraj said the explanation given to the Environmental Council of Zambia was being misinterpreted in some media releases.
He explained that the river is much better that it was in previous years.
The Environmental Council of Zambia has however instituted investigations to ascertain the extent of contamination Konkola Copper Mine has caused to the Kafue River before imposing sanctions against the mining company.
This is the third time the mining company is reported to have polluted the Kafue River.
In 2007, the ECZ ordered the mining firm to close its tailings leach plant after it polluted the same river, the main source of water for residents on the Copperbelt.
QFM
pollution of any nature is fatal to both living and non living organisms. the loss of bioderversity due to kafue river pollution should not be taken so lightly. stiff laws and punishment should be imposed for any company that do not take necessary steps to prevent any form of pollution. i agree with the MP and other government wings incharge of water and natural resources should rise up and condem such acts. no matter what you pay for the loss , it can not replace the nature destroyed, who knows maybe some species in the water affected by pullution are at the age of exntiction. we need more serious investigation to this matter and a report be published on action to be taken .
We are done for in Zed!
The KCM have seen that Zambia has a very dull gonvernment and as such they can pollute at will.
Zambia is full of dull creatures in gonvernment which do not care about the lives of the poor people. The dull creatures care only about KCM filling their pockets.
Really dull creatures in gonvernment THEY ARE.
Why cant you fine KCM in millions of dollars? Look at what Obama did to BP, BP is paying billions of dollars ….this is how great leaders think. Not this govnt of dull creatures.
NONSENSE.
” Mr Janakaraj explained that the river is much better that it was in previous years.” What Nonsense. You want to pollute our Kafue like the way you have have polluted the Ganges. Look zambians, we need to sort out such issues once and for all. These foreigners will poison our land and our children will live in poisoned land unable to churn out a living out of it. These foreigners will be long gone after exhausting our copper whose poceeds we have refused to get an equitable share from.
Corner Janakaraj. They should compensate all affected, inclunding the fish and crocs. The there should be a stiff law to teach them to behave!
For die hard MMDists who are based at Zambian missions abroad, let me tell you that this not being policised, it a real and serious issue. Almost everyday Nkana Water and Sewerage Co. has to shut down the water works due to heavy polutants coming from KCM. Kitwe and Kalulushi are heavily affected and am sure so is Chingola and Chililabombwe.
It’s amazing how ignorant we still are as regards something as serious as water pollution in Zambia. What are the regulations and Laws in Zambia? Should people’s lives and biodiversity be destroyed whilst we stand idly on the side? What does this say about the leadership in Zambia? Is it enough merely to be irritated as an MP.Are MP’s not supposed to effect change in their constituency? If government can’t do anything shouldnt we, as responsible and informed Zambians not do something about it? We can make good use of tools like Facebook and start a petition(unless one has already been started) to try to influence improved policy on pollution especially as regards water which affects everyone. We need money to improve the country but we must not sell out just to attain our…
If no petition has been started I’m happy to commence one on facebook.Please find me on Richard Roundhead. Lets take positive action rather than complaining and moaning. One Zambia One Nation and for the Health of the future generations too!
Last time KCM polluted Kafue river, the penault was K21,000,000=. So am sure KCM finds it cheaper to pollute Kafue river than to put in anti pollution measures within the company. In the end, profits 4 KCM are maximised at the expense of Zambians’ health.
How come this pollution was not that much when we had ZCCM.
I am as iritated as the MP is. Looks like this INDIAN thinks this is Indian where they don’t give a damn about drinking shit because the whole Country smells like sheet anyway.
KCM will continue polluting for as long as you have this LAZY, DULL and OLD F’OOL for a president. After all it’s much cheaper to pollute and pay that fine than put in preventative measures. RB is SLEEPING, probably thinking he’s still drinking tujilijili at his farm in Chipata. Let’s bring in right thinking Individuals next year.