ZEMA orders copper firm to halt ops

SANFROSSA MANYINDA writes@SunZambianTHE Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has ordered Rongxin Investments Limited Copper concentration and electro-winning plant in Kalulushi district to suspend operations.ZEMA has also directed the cleaning up and restoration of the polluted stretch of the Luela Stream.The order comes after the bursting of an acid dam on Kitwe-Mufulira Road and whose effluent moved into Luela Stream which feeds into Mwambashi River where Nkana Water and Sanitation Company has a treatment plant.There was imminent water pollution in Kitwe, Chambishi and Kalulushi after the bursting of an acid dam at the firm.The effluent was moving into Lwela Stream which feeds into Mwambashi River where Nkana water has a treatment plant.Itimpi Ward Councilor Mpasa Mwaya expressed worry that people in the area had started getting and selling fish which was dying on its own due to the acid discharged into the main stream and further feeding its waters into Mwambashi River.Ms Mwaya appealed to the general populace in her ward to desist getting, selling or eating the fish from Lwela Stream until a time when the experts give guidance.ZEMA Acting Manager Corporate Affairs Friday Phiri revealed that preliminary investigations by a team of Inspectors indicated that the incident happened when a dam embankment at the plant collapsed, thereby discharging huge volumes of tailings into the Luela Stream.“A stretch of more than 200 meters along the Luela stream has been polluted, affecting fish and other aquatic organisms and that some small-scale farmers who grow crops on the banks of the Luela stream have also had some of their crops buried by the discharge,” he said.Mr Phiri said ZEMA was working with other Government agencies and departments to ensure that further regulatory action was taken in line with the provisions of the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011. The Sun