A Chinese mining company has been seeking to cover up the extent of a dam collapse that brought ecological disaster to Zambia's Kafue River Basin, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Why It Matters
Beijing has invested heavily in Africa’s vast reserves of energy, metals and minerals, securing access to essential commodities while expanding its geopolitical clout across the continent as Washington's influence wanes. Zambia—one of the world’s largest copper producers—has become a major partner in this push, hosting several Chinese-owned or -backed mining operations.
But this cooperation has come with costs. As in many other low-income nations participating in China’s Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure framework, Zambia is heavily indebted to Chinese state banks, and Chinese companies have been accused of violating labor and environmental regulations.
Newsweek reached out to China Nonferrous Metals Industry Group and Zambia's Environmental Management Agency via emailed requests for comment.
What To Know
The February 18 collapse of an earthen dam at a Sino-Metals mine released roughly 50 million liters of acidic waste into a tributary of Zambia’s Kafue River, causing a massive fish die-off as far as 70 miles downstream and forcing the nearby city of Kitwe to shut down its water supply.
The Kafue River Basin is a key economic lifeline for Zambia and supports more than 60 percent of the southern African nation’s population. Following the disaster, officials ordered Sino-Metals, a subsidiary of the Chinese state-run China Nonferrous Metals Industry Group, to compensate affected farmers and residents whose livelihoods were devastated.
Sino-Metals blamed the dam collapse on vandalism and heavy rainfall, but the company has reportedly sought to ensure that any compensation is tied to silence. According to nondisclosure agreements later reviewed by the WSJ, affected villagers were asked to accept payment only if they agreed not to speak publicly about the spill or the settlements.
Farmer Bathsheba Musole told the WSJ that Sino-Metals representatives offered her a one-time payment of $150, along with a monthly allotment of staple foods, in exchange for a pledge never to discuss the disaster, which the Zambian government has said rendered her half-acre plot unfarmable for three years.
The officials forbade her from telling others about the nondisclosure agreement itself and made her promise to never pursue legal action. Local activists told the WSJ that these terms were typical for all victims approached by Sino-Metals.
“At least we have something to eat," she said, referring to the monthly allotments of food.
"Most people here are tired of fighting with the Chinese,” said Musole, who supports eight children.
Farmer Timmy Kabindela, whose fish stocks were devastated by the spill, said the Chinese company offered him a cash settlement of $400, along with a three-month supply of drinking water and lime to neutralize the acid in his ponds.
Kabindela initially rejected the offer and drove 240 miles to meet with his lawyers in the capital, Lusaka. Yet he said Sino-Metals officials returned to his property the following day—this time accompanied by police—and convinced his 80-year-old mother to accept the deal.
“She had no idea what she was signing,” he said. “I am determined to fight these Chinese in court. They are tricksters."
Kabindela and others have since filed a lawsuit demanding $200 million in compensation from the company, the report said.
The company has reportedly sought protection from local authorities, with police warning residents not to share images of the environmental damage or speak to reporters. Environmental activists told the newspaper that more than a dozen campaigners and journalists have been arrested over the past three months after being seen talking to locals.
What People Are Saying
Brigadier Siachitema, an attorney representing those affected by the mine told the WSJ that the Sino Metals officials were "very inhumane," with those affected by the dam collapse "not even shown the amount they would receive until after they signed the document.
Zambia's Ministry of Green Economy and Environment said in statement Tuesday: "The Government has awarded Applied Science and Technology Associates a contract to undertake the assessment and make recommendations [...] on the extent of the pollution caused by Sino Metals Leach Zambia Limited [...] In line with the polluter pays principle, Sino Metals Leach Zambia Limited shall bear the full cost of the assessment and remediation activities.
"The Government, through a multi-agency effort, has been conducting independent monitoring of water quality across the Copperbelt. The latest sampling data indicates that concentrations of heavy metals are within safe limits."
A spokesperson for the, Chinese Foreign Ministry told Newsweek: "We have learnt that Sino Metals has been making all-out efforts to cooperate with the Zambian Government in dealing with the tailings dam breach, including timely sealing of the breach, prompt interception and diversion of spillage to another tailings dam, embankment reinforcement, support for local water supply restoration and continuous measures to improve water quality.
"[...]All fines have been paid, and compensation to 454 affected households was provided from July 31 to August 2 based on government assessment. Mining operations remain suspended for more than eight months, yet none of the employees have been laid off, and salaries and full benefits continue to be paid uninterrupted."
What Happens Next
Sino-Metals has begun building a new wall to replace the breached dam and has reportedly been using bulldozers to remove dried tailings from riverbanks and other affected areas, in what appears to be an effort to erase evidence that could be used in an eventual investigation, the Journal wrote.
Zambia’s government announced last year that the country would receive $5 billion in mining investments from Chinese firms by 2031.
Update 10/31/2025, 5:36 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and a comment from the Chinese embassy.
