The Government has identified tailings dam safety as a priority, calling for increased training of regulators and mining operators to strengthen the management of these facilities.
Minerals Regulations Commission Director Mine Inspections and Audits Elite Mhone warned that climate change and increasingly heavy rainfall heighten the risk of tailings dam failures.
Mr Mhone was speaking during a plenary session at the Mining and Investment Insaka in Lusaka.
He said that unlike conventional water dams, tailings facilities continue to grow as mining waste accumulates, requiring ongoing monitoring, stronger safety measures and improved regulatory oversight to protect surrounding communities and the environment.
“The size of rainfall we receive now is not the same as rainfall that was being received in 1964, right now we have got a lot of rainfall,” Mr Mhone
Mr Mhone further said that Zambia’s tailings dam management and safety standards remain inadequate, raising concerns as the country targets annual copper production of three million tonnes.
He has since called for stricter regulatory inspections, independent engineering oversight, a national tailings dam registry and greater accountability for mining companies.
And Zambia Environmental Agency (ZEMA) Acting Director Licensing and Compliance Constantino Mweembela said mining companies should strengthen water quality monitoring and engage communities to protect shared water resources in increasingly water-stressed areas.
“Environmental impact assessments must go beyond regulatory compliance to include practical measures for preventing pollution, monitoring groundwater and surface water, and detecting contamination early,” he said.
Mr Mwembela has also urged mining operators to invest in real-time monitoring systems and adhere to international tailings management standards to safeguard water resources and surrounding communities.
Meanwhile, Seed Global Health Country Director, Chikusela Sikazwe has urged mining companies to integrate health considerations into environmental and social impact assessments from the earliest stages of mining projects.
Dr Sikazwe said this will help to ensure that their investments align with government priorities.
He warned that uncoordinated investments can lead to duplication and underutilised health facilities, calling for stronger collaboration between mining companies and the Ministry of Health.
“The approach should strengthen Zambia’s health system throughout the mining lifecycle, including emergency care and preparedness for disease outbreaks, climate-related health risks and future pandemics,” Dr Sikazwe said.
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