A major acid spill from a Chinese-owned mine in Zambia threatens diplomatic ties with China, affecting millions reliant on the Kafue River for drinking water and causing significant wildlife casualties. Zambian President Hichilema has called for expert assistance to manage the crisis, which experts believe will harm Zambia-China relations.
A significant environmental crisis has emerged in Zambia, as a Chinese-owned copper mine experienced a spill of 50 million liters of acid. This incident poses a grave threat to the relationship between Zambia and China, according to experts. The Kafue River, a crucial waterway spanning 1,576 kilometers, supports approximately 12 million individuals and provides drinking water for around five million, particularly those residing in Lusaka, the capital.
The spill has caused extensive ecological damage, with numerous reports of dead fish discovered as far as 100 kilometers from the site. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has recognized the severity of the situation, requesting assistance from experts to address what he has deemed “a crisis that threatens people and wildlife along the Kafue.”
Experts, including Emmanuel Matambo, a research director at the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Africa-China Studies, assert that the environmental disaster is likely to have significant implications for Zambia’s diplomatic ties with China.
In summary, the catastrophic acid spill from a Chinese-owned copper mine in Zambia has raised serious concerns regarding both environmental and diplomatic repercussions. The contamination of the vital Kafue River threatens the health of millions and wildlife, which may ultimately strain relations between Zambia and China. Urgent assistance has been sought to mitigate this pressing crisis and protect public health and natural resources.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
