Maravi

KCM pollutes Kafue River again

KCM pollutes Kafue River again
By Kabanda Chulu in Kitwe
Fri 14 Jan. 2011, 04:00 CAT

KONKOLA Copper Mine has polluted the Kafue River again. And Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) northern region manager Patson Zulu has called for the imposition of serious punitive measures against KCM for its continued pollution of the Kafue River.

But KCM head of corporate affairs Jacqueline Kabeta requested for a written press query before commenting on the matter. In an interview yesterday, Zulu said KCM informed ECZ about the incident on Tuesday.

“KCM reported that they had a problem with a Zesco power line to one of the pumps and they shut down the concentrator and the tailings leach plant but we suspect that by the time they took this action, impurities had already over flown into the river since preliminary results indicate the presence of heavy metals in the Kafue River ,” Zulu said.

“We are waiting for latest results to ascertain the level of contamination but as at last night (Wednesday) the situation was the same and we are not thinking of taking KCM to court but we shall impose serious punitive measures which I can’t disclose now.”

Nkana Water and Sewerage Company on Wednesday, temporarily shutdown water supply in Kitwe as a precautionary measure following reports of suspected pollution of the Kafue River by KCM.

Mulonga Water managing director Manuel Mutale said operations were normal since the company was able to treat the levels of impurities in the river.

“But we are still carrying out tests and also waiting for ECZ to complete their investigations and advise what to do. We only shutdown when our tests reveal higher levels of impurity content which we can’t treat,” said Mutale.

And Earth Organisation Zambia executive director Lovemore Muma said it was unfortunate that KCM had failed to keep its assurances that pollution of the Kafue River would not happen again.

Labels: KAFUE, KCM, KITWE, MANUEL MUTALE, NKANA WATER AND SEWAGE COMPANY, POLLUTION

posted by MrK @ 11:36 AM