Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and responsible corporate citizenship following a K200,000 donation to the Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust in Chingola.
Speaking on behalf of KCM Chief Operating Officer Malcolm Mewett, KCM Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Brian Siatubi said the donation forms part of the company’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda, which continues to positively impact communities in its areas of operation.
Mr. Siatubi said KCM has for many years invested in education, health, livelihoods, and sports to help build resilient communities, adding that the company has in recent years deliberately expanded its CSR focus to include environmental stewardship as a core pillar.
He explained that KCM’s Green Initiative includes community-based beekeeping projects aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods, the establishment of tree nurseries around KCM’s operational areas, and a tree-planting programme targeting more than 100,000 trees in each district.
Mr. Siatubi further disclosed that KCM’s environmental protection efforts also extend to aquatic ecosystems, with the company releasing approximately 30,000 fish fingerlings annually into nearby streams to support biodiversity.
Meanwhile, Green Initiative Zambia (GIZ) Chief Executive Officer Jonas Kunda commended KCM for its continued commitment to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. He described the donation as a major milestone under the KCM–Green Integrated Project, a partnership focused on promoting environmental sustainability through education and sustainable livelihoods in KCM’s operational areas.
Mr. Kunda revealed that with financial support from KCM amounting to US$110,800, the project is benefiting communities across four districts where the mining firm operates. Beneficiaries include schools, youth groups, government institutions, community cooperatives, and individual farmers involved in beekeeping, tree planting, and aquaculture.
Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage Trust Executive Director Peggy Motsch reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to combating poaching and uncontrolled fires, which she described as among the most serious and persistent threats to wildlife conservation at Chimfunshi.
Ms. Motsch said illegal hunting continues to exert immense pressure on wildlife, forcing animals to become increasingly elusive and disrupting fragile ecosystems. She emphasised that strengthened anti-poaching measures and improved fire management would significantly enhance conservation outcomes by protecting critical habitats and safeguarding biodiversity across the sanctuary.
Meanwhile, Chingola Mayor Johnson Kang’ombe praised KCM and Green Initiative Zambia for their commitment to environmental protection and community empowerment under the KCM Green Integrated Project.
The Mayor noted that the mining sector has in recent years recorded some of the worst pollution incidents, which have severely affected water bodies, wetlands, aquatic life, and surrounding communities. He said such pollution has disrupted livelihoods for people dependent on fishing, farming, and livestock rearing, while some workers lost jobs after polluting companies were shut down by government, leading to reduced revenue for the state.
Mr. Kang’ombe said initiatives that promote responsible mining and environmental sustainability are critical to restoring trust, protecting livelihoods, and ensuring long-term development in mining communities.
