Public Protector to Probe Public Institutions over Kafue River Pollution

Public Protector Caroline Sokoni reports that her office will investigate the mismanagement surrounding pollution of the Kafue River by Sino Metals, questioning why regulators failed to intervene earlier.

The Office of the Public Protector Zambia is an is an independent, high-level office responsible for investigating complaints of maladministration and other improper conduct in public affairs. During an interview, Sokoni reported that the office has an environmental desk that investigates failures by regulators, such as the Health and Safety Department and other government departments.

“So, that issue of the Kafue River being polluted… We are investigating the maladministration. For this river to be polluted up to this point, where were the regulators?” Sokoni asked in an interview.

Sokoni noted that the office is currently investigating the manganese poisoning in Serenje which has left some people brain-damaged. A report is due to be released imminently to establish whether adequate health and safety inspections, such as requirements for protective clothing, were carried out.

Sokoni stressed that environmental protection serves as a “barometer of the levels of maladministration and corruption” in Zambia. “Look after Zambia, and Zambia will look after you,” she urged. “If we are not looking after Zambia, the headmen are just giving away our land like that. Will our grandchildren have a Zambia to look after them? They won’t.”

Registrar Innocent Nyambe confirmed that the investigation into the Kafue pollution has been completed and that the report will soon be released. Sokoni underlined that the Office of the Public Protector is a preventative mechanism against corruption, noting that “maladministration is mini-corruption.”