In Zambia’s Copperbelt, frustration has finally spilled into the courts. A total of 176 residents of Kalusale and Chambishi have filed a petition at the High Court against Sino Metals Leach Zambia Limited and NFC Africa Mining Limited, accusing the companies of destroying their livelihoods and endangering their lives. The case, lodged on September 12, 2025, is backed by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC), and campaigners say it could be a defining test for environmental justice in the region.
The roots of the case trace back to February 18, when four tailings dams owned by Sino Metals collapsed. The disaster unleashed between 50 and 900 million litres of acidic mine waste into the Mwambashi and Kafue rivers, water sources that thousands of families depend on for farming, fishing, drinking, and raising livestock. What should have been lifelines became poisoned streams. Months later, many villagers are still living without clean water, medical support, or fair compensation.
The petitioners argue that their constitutional rights—to life, dignity, property, a safe environment, and access to justice—have all been trampled on. They are demanding urgent relief: safe water, medical care, emergency payouts, proper resettlement, and a transparent remediation plan to restore land and water. SALC’s executive director Anneke Meerkotter put it plainly: “The people of Kalusale and Chambishi have been living with poisoned water and grave health risks. This case is about restoring their dignity and holding powerful companies accountable.”
For villagers who once lived self-sufficient lives, farming cassava, maize, and vegetables, the collapse has been devastating. Rivers they once trusted are now laden with heavy metals confirmed by regulators and independent researchers. International attention followed quickly, with both the Zambian Environmental Management Agency and foreign embassies issuing warnings earlier this year. Civil groups say the tragedy reflects long-standing regulatory weaknesses that leave rural families unprotected against corporate excess.
The High Court is expected to fix a hearing date soon, but for families in Kalusale, the stakes go beyond legal precedent. They are fighting for survival in a poisoned landscape. As one farmer put it, “Every day we drink this water because we have no choice. We want justice, but more than that, we want to live.”
