By Ennety Munshya
As Zambia pushes to attract more investment into its mining sector and increase mineral production, the government says economic growth must not come at the expense of the environment. But after years of pollution incidents, environmental damage and concerns over weak enforcement, a bigger question remains: is it possible to achieve both?
The Department of Large Scale Mining and Investment Promotion under the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development says it is working to ensure mining companies operating in Zambia adopt sustainable and responsible mining practices.
Misozi Mwanza, an engineer and Assistant Director in the Local Content Unit, said sustainable large-scale mining should involve investments that generate economic benefits while protecting the environment and safeguarding the interests of future generations.
Speaking on the Mining Podcast, monitored by MakanDay, Mwanza said the government wants mining investments that are responsible and environmentally sustainable over the long term.
“Responsible investment is not attracting investment at the cost of the environment. ESG issues have to be addressed early on in the conversation,” Mwanza said.
She said environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations should therefore be incorporated into mining projects from the outset, rather than being addressed only after environmental or social problems emerge.
Mining companies, she said, should demonstrate from the beginning how they intend to manage waste generated by their operations, prevent and respond to pollution, and engage communities affected by mining activities.
Sustainable mining, Mwanza said, requires investors to consider the environmental and social consequences of their projects alongside their economic returns.
But Zambia’s experience raises questions about how easily that balance can be achieved.
The country has long depended on mining as a major source of investment, exports and government revenue, but communities in some mining areas have also experienced pollution, land degradation and damage to livelihoods.
MakanDay has documented some of these consequences, including the February 2025 failure of a tailings dam operated by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia Limited in Kalulushi, which released acidic mining waste into waterways connected to the Kafue River.
A government-commissioned assessment later pointed to weaknesses in enforcement, monitoring, inspection and emergency preparedness, despite environmental laws and regulations already being in place. The incident provides important context to Mwanza’s remarks and the government’s push for responsible mining.
For communities living alongside mining operations, the measure of responsible investment will therefore not simply be what government and investors promise before a project begins, but whether those commitments translate into effective environmental protection on the ground.
Photo Credit | Victor Musonda
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