Dozens of farmers in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province have launched a $220 million lawsuit against Chinese company Sino-Metals Leach (SML), accusing it of contaminating their land and water following a massive toxic waste spill earlier this year. The case, filed in Lusaka, centers on a February incident near Kitwe when a waste dam operated by SML collapsed, releasing tens of millions of liters of effluent into surrounding farmland and waterways. Farmers say the disaster has destroyed crops, poisoned livestock, and exposed their families to life-threatening health risks.
A clean-up company contracted by Zambia’s Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), Drizit Environmental, reported that the spill was nearly 20 times larger than SML initially admitted. Laboratory tests confirmed dangerous concentrations of cyanide, arsenic, copper, and cadmium heavy metals the World Health Organization links to cancers, organ damage, and birth defects. Representing about 50 farmers, lawyers are demanding an independent environmental impact assessment, medical screening for affected communities, and the relocation of families living closest to the contaminated areas.
This is the second lawsuit against SML in recent weeks, after 176 residents of nearby communities filed a separate complaint over the same spill. SML has denied wrongdoing, arguing it has complied with all Zambian environmental regulations and carried out rehabilitation work as required. The dispute now sets the stage for a major legal battle over mining accountability and environmental justice in Zambia’s resource-rich Copperbelt, where foreign mining firms have long faced criticism over pollution and land degradation.
