Kafue River Water on the Copperbelt Found Highly Acidic

By Masauso Mkwayaya

Government is assessing farms along the contaminated Mwambashi Stream and Kafue River on the Copperbelt to determine the potential effect of the pollution on the fish and livestock.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock says a team from the National Aquaculture Research and Development Centre is currently conducting further assessments along the water bodies to determine the full extent of the impact.

Principal Public Relations Officer, BENNY MUNYAMA says the two water bodies are contaminated leading to mass fish death and posing serious risks to human and animal health.

Mr. MUNYAMA says preliminary assessments indicate dangerously low PH levels, with water samples from Kafue Bridge, in Kitwe, registering a PH of three confirming high acidity.

He told ZNBC News today, that people should not consume fish from the Kafue River and other polluted streams, as the contamination involves acidic effluents with heavy metal content, making the fish unsafe for human consumption.

Mr. MUNYAMA has urged residents in the affected areas along the water bodies to take precaution when buying and consuming fish and livestock products.

He has advised people to ensure that fish for consumption is purchased from reputable retail outlets.

Mr. MUNYAMA adds that a Public Health team has collected water and fish samples for further analysis.