Mercury use in gold mining in Mpika, a ticking time bomb

By Lloyd Mwape, Caesar Sindele, Sarah Kayombo, Alliness Zulu, Purity Mafunga & Lucy Nambela

What once flowed as life-giving water in Kanyelele and surrounding areas now carries a hidden danger. As mercury use in gold extraction intensifies, communities downstream face a silent but escalating threat, one that risks widespread poisoning and turns daily survival into uncertainty.

Investigations reveal that unskilled and illegal miners operating in Kanyelele are openly using mercury to extract alluvial gold.

During panning, miners mix water, mercury and ore in small basins, allowing the mercury to bind with gold particles for easier separation.

“When the mercury binds with the gold, it helps us separate it from the soil,” one miner explained.

Due to limited water at mining sites, miners admitted they frequently relocate operations to nearby streams, including the Munenshi stream, one of the main water sources for local communities.

“We don’t have enough water at the site, so we go to the river,” another miner said.

The process does not end there. After extraction, miners burn the mercury-gold amalgam in open air, releasing toxic mercury vapour into the environment.

“The heat evaporates the mercury and leaves the gold behind,” a miner added.

But the environmental and health consequences are severe.

Ward Development Committee Vice Chairperson Davies Chama says the situation has spiraled out of control, with miners polluting water sources with little regard for regulations or community safety.

Residents are already feeling the impact. Amos Chisenga, a local villager, says access to clean water has become a daily struggle.

“The river water is discoloured. We now have to walk long distances to find safe water,” he said, calling on authorities to intervene urgently.

Health expert Teddy Mulenga warns that mercury exposure poses long-term and often irreversible health risks.

“Mercury is extremely dangerous. It can be absorbed through the skin and attacks the central nervous system,” he explained. “In the short term, people may experience tremors or numbness. Over time, it leads to memory loss and chronic neurological conditions.”

He added that mercury exposure can also damage vital organs.

“The liver is affected first, and as it begins to fail, the kidneys are also compromised,” he said.

Mulenga further explained that when mercury enters water bodies, it is converted by bacteria into methylmercury, a highly toxic compound that accumulates in fish. Communities consuming contaminated fish are unknowingly exposed, with pregnant women and children facing the highest risk.

Environmental expert James Matches has described the situation as a “ticking time bomb,” citing the unregulated use of mercury and cyanide in the gold rush.

“The contamination of water bodies is already evident. What we are seeing is a double impact- both the soil and water systems are being polluted,” he said.

Matches noted that most of the mining activities are being conducted without oversight, certification, or adherence to environmental safeguards.

Under the Zambia Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011, it is an offence to discharge or apply any poisonous, toxic, or polluting substance into the environment in a manner that causes harm to human health, water resources, or biodiversity. The law further requires that any activity likely to have an environmental impact, such as mining- must undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and be approved by the Zambia Environmental Management Authority (ZEMA).

The Act also sets strict guidelines on the handling, storage, transportation, and use of hazardous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide. Failure to comply can result in penalties, including fines, imprisonment, or both.

“In this case, it is clear that these operations are not compliant,” Matches said. “There is no evidence of ZEMA certification or adherence to safe chemical handling procedures.”

He said that the lack of accountability in waste disposal is worsening the crisis.

“These mining processes require large volumes of water, yet no one is monitoring where contaminated water or tailings are discharged. This is dangerous for both ecosystems and human settlements downstream,” he said.

The environmental cost is equally alarming. Contamination threatens aquatic life, vegetation, and the broader ecosystem, raising concerns about long-term biodiversity loss in the area.

Matches also questioned the apparent lack of political and traditional leadership intervention, accusing some local authorities of prioritizing short-term economic gains over environmental protection.

“We risk sacrificing the future for immediate financial benefit. This is something we will regret if urgent action is not taken,” he warned.

While acknowledging that many residents have turned to gold mining as a means of survival, Matches stressed that economic opportunities must not come at the expense of public health.

“We cannot have a wealthy but sick population. Development must be sustainable and protect human life,” he said.

Experts are now calling for urgent intervention, including stricter enforcement of environmental laws, community sensitization and the introduction of safer, mercury-free mining technologies.