By 
Sino Leach Metals is facing yet another lawsuit, this time from residents of Ngabwe Village in Central Province, who are demanding US$20 million in compensation for environmental and health damage allegedly caused by a massive acid spill into the Kafue River earlier this year.
The suit, filed in the Lusaka High Court, has been brought by Cholwe Saxon Greatson, also known as Headman Yundayunda Fulama, on his behalf and on behalf of affected villagers of Ngabwe Chiefdom.
In his statement of claim, Greatson stated that the villagers’ livelihoods had been “severely devastated” following the collapse of the company’s Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), which allegedly released more than 50 million litres of highly acidic effluent into the Kafue River in February 2025.
“The defendant negligently failed to secure its tailings dam, resulting in catastrophic pollution of the Kafue River and the surrounding environment,” read part of the claim.
The headman and his community, who depend on the river for farming, fishing, and domestic use, claimed the toxic spill rendered the water and surrounding land unsafe for human and animal life.
According to the claim, the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) confirmed that the effluent discharged by Sino Leach Metals had a dangerously low pH level of around 1.8, contaminating water bodies and farmlands across the Copperbelt and Central provinces.
The plaintiffs argued that the mining firm had a statutory and common law duty to handle hazardous waste safely, prevent pollution, and protect the health and livelihoods of surrounding communities.
As a result of the alleged negligence, residents of Ngabwe claimed they have suffered loss of crops and livestock, contamination of farmland and irrigation sources, economic disruption due to loss of fishing and farming activities, and deprivation of safe drinking and household water.
The community is seeking a declaration that Sino Leach Metals breached its statutory, common law, and constitutional duties.
It is also demanding special damages of US$20 million, general damages for harm to health, property, and livelihoods, as well as aggravated and exemplary damages for alleged reckless conduct and a subsequent cover-up by the company.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments