The Zambian government expressed concerns on Wednesday over the increased pollution levels in the country’s central Copperbelt Province caused by firms involved in mining and other related activities.
Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu has led a delegation of officials to conduct inspections to determine if these firms were adhering to environmental protection regulations in the province. He expressed dismay over the heightened pollution levels in the province.
Nevertheless, the minister said the government will not remain idle and allow the situation to deteriorate, as the pollution levels are impacting not only the environment but also the lives of the people, according to a press release which said the delegation was shocked to find that the visited companies were not complying with environmental regulations, leading to the discharge of emissions into the open environment. In some firms, workers were exposed to dust and smelting fumes because they were not provided with protective clothing.
Furthermore, the press release noted that some companies were discharging untreated industrial waste into a river, which affected vegetables grown by small-scale farmers. As a result, the ministry ordered some companies to halt their operations and compensate the affected farmers.
