(3 Minutes Read)
The employees of Lumwana Mine in Kalumbila District have voiced grave concerns about their health, attributing it to uranium pollution in the drinking water. The situation, compounded by governmental inaction and alleged negligence of mine owners, poses a severe risk to lives, especially following the mine’s admission last November to contaminate water with uranium.
The government’s indifference and collusion stressed that lives are in jeopardy due to its failure to take decisive action. Despite the mine’s acknowledgment of the contamination, the Ministry of Mines prematurely closed the case, and the mining company terminated a union leader who advocated for medical examinations of affected workers, stated Kasonde Mwenda, President of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
In response to these grave concerns, the EFF demands comprehensive medical tests for all Lumwana Mineworkers exposed to uranium-contaminated water, just compensation for those whose health has been compromised due to the contamination, substantial penalties imposed on the mining company, coupled with a mandate for thorough contamination cleanup, swift reinstatement of the fired employee, a union leader, who sought justice for affected workers and a public apology from the Minister of Mines, acknowledging negligence and maltreatment of miners at Lumwana Mine and nationwide.
Many epidemiological and laboratory studies have demonstrated that environmental and occupational uranium exposure can induce multifarious health problems. Uranium exposure may cause health risks because of its chemotoxicity and radiotoxicity in natural or anthropogenic scenarios: the former is generally thought to play a more significant role in natural uranium exposure, and the latter is more relevant to enriched uranium exposure.
Read Also:
https://trendsnafrica.com/zambian-mine-workers-urge-reopening-of-mine-chambishi-metals/
https://trendsnafrica.com/zambian-government-urged-to-reopen-chambeshi-metals-mine/
The EFF stands resolute in its commitment to safeguarding the well-being and rights of workers in Zambia. Mwenda stressed that prioritizing the health and livelihoods of citizens over corporate interests is paramount and will not tolerate the blatant disregard for the safety and dignity of fellow Zambians.
