Environmental expert Dr. Mweene Himwiinga has called on the Zambian government to ensure that serious and responsible mining companies consistently contribute to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) in order to safeguard the country against environmental disasters.
Speaking in an interview with Flava News, Dr. Himwiinga cited the Kabwe lead poisoning tragedy as a stark reminder of the consequences of weak environmental safeguards. She said the disaster was exacerbated by the lack of adequate funds to support timely and effective clean-up and remediation efforts once pollution had occurred.
Dr. Himwiinga noted that while Zambia established the Environmental Protection Fund to address such challenges, only a limited number of mining companies are currently contributing to it. She warned that this undermines the fund’s intended purpose and leaves communities exposed when mining-related environmental incidents arise.
She emphasised that the EPF is a critical financing mechanism for environmental clean-up and rehabilitation in the event of mining disasters and called on authorities to strengthen enforcement measures to ensure broader compliance by mining firms.
Dr. Himwiinga further argued that consistent and mandatory contributions to the fund would encourage responsible mining practices while protecting public health, the environment, and affected communities across the country.
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