The Zambian government has rejected a US embassy health alert over toxic pollution from a February mine spill in the Copperbelt, insisting the water is safe.

In response to the US embassy's safety concerns, the Zambian government has rejected allegations of hazardous contamination in the Copperbelt mining region. Due to severe soil and water contamination linked to a Sino-Metals mining disaster in February, the US embassy issued a health alert on Wednesday, ordering the immediate evacuation of its employees in Kitwe town and the surrounding area.

A tailings dam intended to contain heavy metals and toxic waste collapsed into the Kafue River, a crucial source of drinking water, following heavy rain. According to the US embassy, fresh data revealed the scope of dangerous and cancer-causing compounds. Besides the polluted soil and water, the agency warned that it can also get into the air and be toxic if breathed in from the mining tailings spill.

Sino-Metals Leach Zambia is owned by the Chinese government and is a part of the China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group. Sino-Metals promised to rehabilitate the environment and provide compensation to the impacted communities at the time of the leak. Both farmers who use the water to irrigate their crops and marine life were impacted by the leak.

According to Green Economy Minister Mike Mposha, the government has been taking initiative since February and is keeping the public informed while compensating impacted areas. Collins Nzovu, Minister of Water Development, stated that the water satisfies WHO criteria and has been continuously tested by the government.