U.S. calls for immediate relocation of its citizens from Kitwe after mine tailings spill

By GIDEON NYENDWA

THE United States government has ordered the immediate evacuation of all its personnel from Kitwe and surrounding areas following revelations of severe environmental contamination from a tailings dam spill at the Sino Metals leach mine in Chambishi.
According to a health alert issued by the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka, newly obtained data confirms that hazardous and carcinogenic substances including arsenic, cyanide, uranium, and other heavy metals have been released into the environment.
“The exposure to these contaminants poses both immediate and long-term health threats, with risks not only from contaminated water and soil but also from airborne particles,” the alert to US citizens in Kitwe and surrounding areas stated.
The embassy said U.S. personnel had been removed from Chambishi town, areas along the Chambishi Stream and Mwambashi River to the Mwambashi-Kafue confluence, as well as Kitwe town.
“U.S. staff are barred from travelling to Kitwe if they would need to rely on municipally available water for drinking or cooking. Americans living in or visiting affected areas have been urged to avoid consuming water or foods cooked with potentially contaminated supplies,” the alert warned.
The embassy specifically cautioned against exposure to heavy metal-laden dust and vapours.
The spill’s impact has heightened concerns over public health in the Copperbelt region, with environmental and health experts warning that contamination could persist for years if not properly contained.
The Zambian government has not yet issued a public statement on the U.S. withdrawal or the extent of the pollution.
Sino Metals, a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group, operates the Chambishi mine, one of the region’s major copper producers. The cause of the dam spill and the scale of the contamination remain under investigation.