Residents of Kinsenda Confront Ecological Disaster Caused by Mining Activities
The residents of Kinsenda, located in the Mutshatsha territory of the Lualaba province, are grappling with an ecological catastrophe that has rendered agricultural activities in the area “difficult” or even “impossible” since 2016.
The cause of this devastation? Toxic emissions from the Mutanda Mining (Mumi) company, a subsidiary of Glencore, which has rendered the land infertile.
Operating in the village of Tshikala, approximately thirty kilometers from the provincial capital Kolwezi, Mutanda Mining has never acknowledged its role in this severe environmental degradation. Local residents lament the sacrifice of their main source of survival.
Chief Lucien Muteba of Kinsenda district expressed dismay over the situation, stating, “Mumi’s chemicals have destroyed our fields in our village.”
He highlighted the failure of crops over the past eight years due to the degradation of the land caused by toxic waste from the mining company.
Jeff Ngoyi, a nurse at a referral hospital center in the village, echoed these sentiments, noting the difficulty in cultivating the land since the commencement of mining activities.
Despite efforts and the use of chemical fertilizers, corn fields lay in ruins, presenting a grim outlook for agricultural prospects.
Compounding the issue, Mutanda Mining has failed to pay fines or compensate affected residents, forcing them to relocate their fields over considerable distances, resulting in increased transportation costs.
The company’s refusal to acknowledge responsibility exacerbates the frustration within the community.
Félix Tambwe, coordinator of civil society forces in Lualaba, emphasized the need for sanctions against the company for environmental destruction, underscoring the importance of compensation for damages.
Residents also deplore the lack of assistance from public authorities in Lualaba, expressing concern over possible complicity. Despite reporting the issue to provincial authorities and the observation of a commission, residents feel neglected and unprotected.
The environmental impact extends beyond land degradation, with reports of air pollution linked to mining activities. Although awaiting scientific confirmation, cases of respiratory issues have been reported at the local hospital.
As the community awaits further developments, efforts to obtain a response from Mutanda Mining have been unsuccessful, leaving unresolved questions regarding accountability and remediation. Stay tuned for updates in the next part of this series.
