Seventeen cows have died in Mumbwa District after consuming water contaminated with cyanide and mine effluents near Bubanii Resources Limited and Ozone mines, officials have confirmed.
Central Province Permanent Secretary Dr. Milner Mwanakampwe reported that 14 cattle perished after drinking cyanide-contaminated water following a spillage near Bubanji Mine. The animals are believed to have consumed the polluted water from a natural grazing area.
Meanwhile, Mumbwa District Commissioner Namukolo Hayumbu stated that efforts to neutralize the contamination began yesterday, with experts closely monitoring the situation.
In a separate incident, three more cattle died after a tailings dam at Ozone Mine burst, releasing toxic effluent into nearby drinking ponds. However, Dr. Mwanakampwe reassured the public that natural water bodies remain unaffected, as authorities have treated the spilled tailings to prevent further environmental damage.
The government is taking additional precautions to ensure that the pollution does not spread to the Kafue River, which could threaten wildlife in the Kafue National Park. Residents in Kashiya, under Chief Mwinuna’s chiefdom in Ngabwe District, have been advised not to consume water from the river, locally known as Luwishi River.
Farmers in affected areas have also been instructed to keep their livestock away from contaminated water sources until the situation stabilizes. Authorities continue to monitor the crisis closely.