Farmers in Zambia have filed an $80bn (£58.5bn) lawsuit against two Chinese-linked firms, blaming them for an 'ecological catastrophe' caused by the collapse of a dam that stored waste from copper mining.
Millions of litres of highly acidic material spilled into waterways in February, leading to 'mass fatalities' among fish, making water undrinkable and destroying crops, the farmers said in court papers.
This is one of the biggest environmental lawsuits in Zambia's history, with the farmers stating the spillage affects about 300,000 households in the copper-mining region.
The US embassy issued a health alert in August, raising concerns of 'widespread contamination of water and soil' in the area.
The lawsuit pits villagers, who are mostly subsistence farmers, against Sino Metals Leach Zambia and NFC Africa Mining, which are subsidiaries of Chinese state-owned firms. A group of 176 farmers have filed papers on behalf of their community in the High Court in Lusaka.
They allege that the collapse of the tailings dam - owned by Sino Metals Leach Zambia but located in the surface area of NFC Africa Mining - was caused by numerous factors, including engineering failures, construction flaws and operational mismanagement.
The firms have not yet commented on the lawsuit, but Sino Metals Leach Zambia has previously stated there was a spillage of about 50,000 cubic metres. They claimed that the tailings release was promptly controlled within hours of detection.
However, the farmers assert that they only learned of the water's toxicity several days after the tailings dam collapsed.
This incident has put the community's health at risk, with residents reporting symptoms such as blood in urine and chest tightness. Villagers had relied on well water, but even it was found to be polluted. Many crops had to be incinerated due to safety concerns.
The petitioners demand that the two firms deposit $80bn into a government-managed account for environmental reparations and full compensation. Additionally, they are asking for a $20m emergency fund for immediate assistance and health assessments.
Last month, the US embassy ordered the withdrawal of its personnel from Kitwe and nearby areas, citing concerns about airborne contaminants from the spilled mine tailings.
Zambian government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa responded, stating that there are no longer serious health implications and that there is 'no need to press the panic button'.