Sun, 11 Jun 2017 11:38:24 +0000
By Chikumbi Katebe
HIGH levels of pollution from the extractive industry has resulted in poor sexual performance among those living in surrounding communities, says the Africa Consumer Union director Francis Mwale.
Mr Mwale said the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has failed to protect the people from exposure to different forms of pollution emanating from the mines and oil marketing companies.
He complained that most communities living around mine areas have continued to suffer frequent coughs, constant headaches and general body pains as a result of exposure to a contaminated environment.
“Residents generally complain of frequent coughing, constant headaches, chest pains and general body weaknesses while others even complain of poor sex performance.
“When ZEMA announced early this year that it had taken a decision to prosecute the mining giant, Konkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM) for polluting the Kafue River and surrounding environment, we applauded the move and sincerely hoped that the environmental regulator would apply the same zeal to other polluters of the environment,” he said.
He lamented the continued failure by ZEMA to reprimand Mt. Meru Millers over the reckless production process of edible oils that exposed people to poisonous chemicals.
He said the factory located about 25 kilometers on Kabwe road has continued to endanger the lives of innocent people and the environment due to the emissions. He charged that while the residents continued to inhale polluted air emanating from the manufacturing plant, there was growing concern of lack of action by the environmental regulator.
Mr Mwale explained that both humans and the ecosystem were at risk due to hazardous toxins emanating through direct ingestion or contact with contaminated soil, the food chain and ground water.
“And since domestic animals such as cattle and goats do graze in the surrounding areas of the factory, they are likely to ingest soil and plant material that are contaminated which in turn can pose a risk to people as well.
“The people complain about sickness, pungent smells, high population of mosquitoes, dust and general negligence,” he said.
Mr Mwale said the people in that area feared reduction in land usability for agricultural production causing food insecurity and land tenure problems.
He has since called on ZEMA to move in quickly and attend to the people’s needs and stop the looming catastrophe.
He said notwithstanding claims of economic benefits with such investment, due care must be applied to ensure that operations of such investments do not leave a long lasting legacy of environmental damage which was detrimental to the interests of the communities
