Muchinga water pollution irks PS

MUCHINGA Province Permanent Secretary Tuesday Bwalya has bemoaned the high levels of pollution from water bodies in Mpika district which is caused by illegal mining activities. Dr Bwalya has since called for urgent action to curb pollution and protect the environment and public health. He accused illegal small-scale miners of polluting rivers with impunity and […]

MUCHINGA Province Permanent Secretary Tuesday Bwalya has bemoaned the high levels of pollution from water bodies in Mpika district which is caused by illegal mining activities.

Dr Bwalya has since called for urgent action to curb pollution and protect the environment and public health.

He accused illegal small-scale miners of polluting rivers with impunity and disregarding the fact that thousands of people and wildlife depended on the water sources for their livelihoods and survival.

The Permanent Secretary said this when he toured Kanchibiya river in Mpika district to assess the extent of pollution in the area.

Dr Bwalya explained that the continued contamination poses a serious threat to communities living along the water sources and to wildlife that relies on them.

He warned that the government will not entertain any gold miner polluting rivers or any other water source in Mpika district and Muchinga Province at large.

Dr Bwalya further revealed that the government will soon put measures to stop any miners from using mercury to process gold.