Zambian Farmers Sue Chinese Firms Over Environmental Disaster

Mon Dec 08 2025 15:57:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A group of Zambian farmers has launched an unprecedented lawsuit against Chinese-linked mining companies, seeking significant reparations for an ecological disaster that has devastated local resources and community health.

Farmers in Zambia have filed an $80 billion lawsuit against Sino Metals Leach Zambia and NFC Africa Mining, following a catastrophic dam collapse that resulted in severe pollution and widespread health issues. The suit, representing the interests of approximately 300,000 households, highlights the grave environmental impact of mining activities in the region. Community health concerns have escalated due to the toxic spillage, prompting calls for urgent reparations and emergency funds for affected individuals.

A group of farmers in Zambia has filed a staggering $80 billion lawsuit against two Chinese-linked firms, blaming them for an ecological catastrophe stemming from the collapse of a dam that stored mining waste. In February, millions of liters of highly acidic waste spilled into local waterways, killing fish, making water undrinkable, and destroying crops.

This lawsuit marks one of the largest environmental legal actions in Zambia's history, with claims from local farmers that the incident affects around 300,000 households within the copper-mining region. In August, the U.S. embassy issued a health alert regarding the pervasive contamination of water and soil in the affected area.

The lawsuit pits subsistence farmers against Sino Metals Leach Zambia and NFC Africa Mining, both subsidiaries of Chinese state-owned enterprises. A total of 176 villagers have filed legal documents in the High Court in Lusaka, alleging that the dam collapse resulted from engineering failures, construction flaws, and operational mismanagement.

Although the firms have not commented directly on the lawsuit, Sino Metals Leach Zambia previously stated that approximately 50,000 cubic meters of waste had been spilled, claiming the incident was contained shortly after its detection.

The farmers assert that they only learned about the toxicity of the water days after the spill, which has led to various health symptoms in the community including blood in urine and chest pain. Local wells have also been contaminated, forcing farmers to destroy crops deemed unsafe for consumption.

In their court filing, the farmers demand that the accused firms deposit $80 billion into a government-managed account as security for environmental reparations and full compensation. They also seek a $20 million emergency fund to address immediate health and environmental assessments, stating the situation has posed a significant health risk to local residents.

Recently, the U.S. embassy withdrew personnel from the region due to concerns over potential airborne contaminants stemming from the spill. In contrast, Zambian government spokespeople have downplayed the health risks, insisting that there is no need for alarm.