The Mwense Mine pollution and the damage it has caused to biodiversity and people’s livelihoods!

It’s been a month and some weeks since the Mine accident occurred in Mwense District when a tailings dam owned by EZED Mining collapsed releasing toxic substances into Mwense Stream which killed off fish, destroyed crops and left hundreds of community members with no access to safe and clean water.

Care for Nature Zambia visited some of the pollution victims to hear how they have been affected and the findings were both sad and disturbing. Firstly a walk down Mwense Stream should evidence of the Stream still being polluted and people that we spoke to confirmed that they have been cautioned against consuming nor getting I to contact with the water from the Stream. Thus means that they are now depending on water which is delivered to them, which unfortunately is not sufficient to meet their basic water needs.

Women bemoned how those coming from labor with new born babies where having challenges of Sanitation and hygiene due to inadequate supply of water! And sadly there has been no discussion for compensation despite the polluter having asked for a record of those affected.

A walk through the village lead us to the back side of the area where the tailings dam collapsed. From Kote village, we were able to see the polluted slurry in the tailings that collapsed. To the communities concern, there is a huge furrow being dug to divert water from the hill, which causes flooding when it reaches its peak to a point where they don’t know where the water will drain to. The village households are not the only infrastructure affected, among the most impacted by the effects of mining is Chebele School!

The honest truth is that this copper Mine sits at a very sensitive ecological area, less than 100 if not 50 meters away from Mwense Stream headwaters. The accident which occurred on 25th November was not the first nor second, according to community members this was the 3rd time that the tailings had collapsed in the year 2025.

The rights of community members have been violated! Copper has been extracted and taken away, there is no sign of corporate social responsibility! The People’s livelihoods have been dependent on fish and agriculture, which the Mine too has taken away! It’s time for affected people of Mwense District to get justice! The polluter must pay and the Mine should close!

In solidarity ✊️ #carefornature