In February 2024, Zambia witnessed one of its worst environmental disasters in recent history when a tailings dam at the Sino Metals Leach Zambia plant near Chambishi ruptured, spilling an estimated 50 million litres of acidic waste into the Kafue River. This river is not only a critical source of drinking water but also a vital artery for agriculture and industry, supporting over half of the country’s population.
While the immediate consequences were devastating—contaminated farmland, displaced communities, and heightened food insecurity—the spill has ignited a deeper conversation about Zambia’s long-term environmental resilience and its relationship with China, its largest mining partner.
The Kafue River basin has long sustained Zambia’s ecological and economic wellbeing. But climate change has rendered it increasingly vulnerable. Declining rainfall and rising temperatures have already pushed water levels to historic lows. In such a context, the toxic spill amplified an already dire situation, compounding the drought’s impacts and accelerating soil degradation.
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China has played a central role in Zambia’s economic landscape for decades. Since the early 2000s, Chinese investments have dominated Zambia’s mining sector, accounting for nearly 90% of foreign direct investment in mining. The relationship, often described as an “all-weather friendship,” has withstood political shifts and economic crises.
However, the Chambishi incident has exposed the cost of unchecked industrial expansion. Local communities have accused the government of turning a blind eye to repeated safety violations by Chinese-owned companies, and opposition leaders have raised concerns about the lack of environmental oversight. What was once viewed as a partnership of convenience is now being questioned for its sustainability—both environmental and political.
Rather than viewing the Chambishi spill solely as a diplomatic setback, Zambia has an opportunity to set a new course—one that prioritizes sustainability, transparency, and community wellbeing. To do this, the country must strengthen its environmental governance and recalibrate its investment framework.
First, Zambia should enforce stringent environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and climate risk audits for all major infrastructure projects. These assessments must be publicly accessible and carried out by independent, accredited bodies. Climate change is no longer a future risk; it is a present reality that must shape how we plan, build, and monitor infrastructure.
Second, companies operating in Zambia—whether local or foreign—must be held accountable for environmental damage. This includes setting aside mandatory remediation funds and being subject to real-time environmental monitoring using digital technologies, such as satellite data and AI-based alerts for water contamination.
Examples from around the world provide a blueprint. After Canada’s Mount Polley disaster in 2014 and Brazil’s Brumadinho tragedy in 2019, both countries implemented rigorous reforms—ranging from dam construction bans to billion-dollar restoration funds. Zambia can do the same, tailored to its regional realities.
Fortunately, Zambia has a strong policy foundation to build on. The 2024 Green Economy and Climate Change Act sets out ambitious goals for climate adaptation, environmental protection, and sustainable resource use. This legislation can be a powerful tool for reshaping Zambia’s mining sector into one that aligns with national and international sustainability goals.
In line with the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) climate projections, Zambia should introduce mandatory stress-testing of mining operations under future climate scenarios. Incorporating sustainability performance into investment contracts—through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) clauses—can also make foreign companies more accountable.
Furthermore, Zambia should champion regional cooperation on shared ecosystems. Strengthening the SADC Transboundary Water Management Programme would ensure the Kafue River’s protection not just within Zambia, but across its downstream partners such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
For China, the Chambishi disaster is a reputational wake-up call. While Beijing promotes itself as a leader in green development through its Belt and Road Initiative, the environmental practices of some of its overseas companies tell a different story. Zambia must now push for bilateral agreements that reflect modern sustainability standards and mutual accountability.
This includes encouraging Chinese firms to adopt global frameworks like the Equator Principles and the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) standards, which prioritize environmental and social responsibility. China’s cooperation in these areas would signal a genuine commitment to shared prosperity.
The Chambishi spill is a symbol of the urgent need to rethink how development and diplomacy intersect. As Zambia looks toward the 2026 elections and navigates economic recovery, sustainability must be elevated from a policy aspiration to a political and diplomatic imperative.
Rebuilding trust with affected communities requires transparent investigations, fair compensation, and visible restoration efforts. But rebuilding a sustainable Zambia-China relationship will demand more: green safeguards in trade deals, accountability in industrial partnerships, and a shared vision of development that does not sacrifice rivers for revenue.
