By Staff Reporter
The multimillion Dollar demands from the people affected by a large-scale toxic spill on the Copperbelt, has hit international headlines again.
This follows demands from the people affected by the pollution, who are demanding $420 million in compensation from the Chinese state-owned company that operates the site.
The demands stem from Demand letters sent to the mining companies, including one from Malisa & Partners Legal Practitioners, demanding the immediate payment of $220 million in interim compensation to facilitate the relocation of 47 households that are part of the Kalusale community and are living in the direct vicinity of the spill. The law firm argued that the amount would also cover their screening, independent medical testing, treatment and livelihood restoration, according to the document.
The other from Malambo & Co. says the firm represents “several residents of Kalusale” and other interested Zambians. The lawyers demanded an immediate payment of $200 million to set up an emergency fund for their clients.
International media organisation, Bloomberg reported that Zambia’s government initially tried to downplay the threat, but later said it found dangerous levels of heavy metals in some water samples. However, Bloomberg indicated that the government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest developments.
Bloomberg highlighted that much as 1.5 million tons of waste were spilled in the disaster, according to Drizit Environmental (Pty) Ltd., the company that Sino Metals hired to undertake an environmental impact assessment, but which the mining company fired for alleged breach of contract, and later questioned the methodology used to assess the magnitude of the spill.
Drizit established that about 900,000 cubic meters (238 million gallons) of toxic tailings remained present in the environment.
“These materials were found to contain dangerous levels of cyanide, arsenic, copper, zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium and other pollutants posing significant long-term health risks, including organ damage, birth defects and cancer,” stated Bloomberg, quoting the statement from Drizit.
Various embassies have warned their citizens to avoid the area because of the health risks.
Bloomberg confirmed that a Sino Metals spokesman said the company had received the letters, which were with its legal department, but declined to comment further.
China’s Foreign Ministry said last month that the company had “actively shouldered responsibility and pro-actively cooperated with the Zambian government” to compensate those affected by the spill. The Zambian government also “spoke highly of the work done by the Chinese company” at an Aug. 7 media briefing, it said.
