By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia /Lusaka
Zambia’s Minister of Green Economy and Environment has assured the nation that Government will enhance enforcement of environmental laws and strengthen oversight to prevent pollution by mining firms, following the recent tailings dam failure at Mukabamo Copper Mines Limited in Mwense District, Luapula Province.
The incident, which occurred on 23rd November 2025 at the company’s facility in the Chebele area of Kashiba Chiefdom, involved the collapse of a tailings dam operated by Ezed Mining Limited. The failure released alkaline mining waste into the environment.
Preliminary investigations have shown that the dam collapse resulted from systemic and structural weaknesses, poor engineering, and disregard for regulatory compliance.
The mine holds Small-Scale Mining Licence No. 29763-HQ-SML and was granted environmental approval by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) in February 2023.
Delivering a ministerial statement in Parliament on Friday, Mike Mposha said the mine will now be required to engage an independent and competent assessor to conduct a comprehensive study to determine the full extent of the pollution.
Mr. Mposha said the findings of this assessment will inform the restoration measures to be undertaken.
Following the incident, ZEMA issued an environmental restoration order directing the mine to immediately cease operations and clean up all areas affected by the discharge.
The Minister reaffirmed that under the Polluter Pays Principle, as provided for in the Environmental Management Act of 2011 and the Environmental Management (Amendment) Act of 2023, Mukabamo Copper Mines will bear the full cost of both the assessment and the restoration works required to rehabilitate the affected environment.
“While the company has approval from ZEMA for mining, crushing and washing plant operations, it was established that the company was illegally operating additional facilities including a mineral processing plant and tailings storage facilities, which were not part of the approved project components.”
“My Ministry takes a firm position that such negligence in the mining sector cannot and should not be tolerated. Communities and ecosystems must be protected, and operators must bear full responsibility for environmental harm arising from their activities,” Mr. Mposha emphasized.
According to the Minister, the collapsed dam was irregularly designed, constructed with incompatible materials, and exhibited extensive cracks, gullies and signs of shear movement.
He added that the dams were unlined, allowing tailings to seep into the ground and further weaken the structure.
“Additionally, the dams were sited on a seasonal stream where storm water further weakened the dam walls leading to their collapse. None of the dams had approval from the mines safety department,”Mr. Mposha said.
The Minister reaffirmed Government’s commitment to safeguarding the environment and ensuring that economic activities do not compromise the well-being of communities.
