High Court sets date for Judicial Review over river pollution in Kanchibiya

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Kanchibiya Member of Parliament Sunday Chanda has announced that the High Court for Zambia will hear a judicial review case on 24th September 2025 concerning the pollution of the Kanchibiya and Lwitikila Rivers.

Mr. Chanda, who is acting on behalf of his constituents, said the legal action challenges the decisions and omissions by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) in addressing environmental degradation linked to gold mining activities in Kanyelele, Impeka.

“The Kanchibiya and Lwitikila Rivers have served our people for generations. Today, they are extensively contaminated. Fish stocks have vanished, and the water is no longer safe for drinking, farming, livestock, or domestic use,” he said.

He has added that despite numerous engagements with ZEMA and WARMA, no meaningful action has been taken, prompting his office to seek judicial redress.

“We’ve filed for judicial review to compel ZEMA and WARMA to uphold their mandates under their respective Acts. This pollution is a major setback at a time when we should be making progress,” Mr. Chanda said.

He has also expressed concern over unregulated mining in the area, noting a mix of legal and illegal operations, some involving private security firms.

“This raises further questions about oversight and accountability. In the end, affected families may be left with no option but to demand compensation,” he warned.

On a more positive note, Mr. Chanda has highlighted the ongoing rollout of piped water systems across the constituency, which he says has significantly reduced waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea and dysentery, especially in schools and health institutions.

“In the past, pupils lost learning time fetching water from rivers. Schools once without any reliable source, now have running water,” he said.

He has cited Kabwela Primary School under Chief Mpepo as an example of transformation: “Despite its large population, the area previously had no dependable water supply. Today, that’s changed and it's improving lives.”

Mr. Chanda has affirmed that the piped water programme will continue into 2025 and 2026, stating, “Water is a right, and it is our duty to fast-track access to it.”

Ends…………………..

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