LEAD TREATMENT STARTS IN KABWE

By KETRA KALUNGA LEAD remediation of households in townships that are impacted by lead pollution has commenced in Kabwe at a cost of K750, 000. The identified lead hotspot areas of Chowa, Kasanda, Makululu, Makandanyama, and Mutwewansofu townships are targeted under phase one of the Mining and Environmental Remediation and Improvement Project (ZMERIP). Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary, Barnaby Mulenga, said environmental remediation was aimed at reducing the lead footprint in the environment. Mr Mulenga said in a statement that the programme would start from Kasanda Township due to its proximity to the old Kabwe mine dump site targeting 20 households. He said remediation works footprint in the targeted household demonstrated Government’s commitment to enhancing safety and reducing environmental health impact associated with lead pollution in the district. “The Kasanda household remediation will be conducted for a period of two months and then will be followed by the second phase which will be rolled out to other townships within the hotspot area,” he said. Mr Mulenga urged environmental regulatory agencies to ensure operating mines keep up with their progressive rehabilitation requirements to avoid the recurrence of such environmental legacies. He said the ministry was working on strengthening legislation around the Environmental Protection Fund. Mr Mulemga said the fund was the most secure way to ensure mining operations remained responsible for all progressive rehabilitation of mine sites. He said that rehabilitation and landscaping of the Kabwe Main Canal were completed and that the procurement process of engaging a contractor for works had commenced. He said the engineering designs and preparation of the associated Environmental and Social Impact Assessments have been finalised and works on the canal are anticipated to begin during the fourth quarter of 2021.