By Francis Chipalo and Alain Kabinda
As fears mount over chemical pollution of streams in Zambia’s mining heartlands, the Continental Leadership Research Institute (CLRI) has launched a new programme to arm journalists with tools to expose environmental abuses and push for accountability.
Speaking at the launch of Investigative Environmental Journalism and Water Governance in Kitwe, CLRI Executive Director Mundia Paul Hakoola said the initiative is “both timely and necessary” given rising concerns over water contamination and weak enforcement of environmental rules in the Copperbelt and North-Western Province.
“These are not just environmental issues,” Hakoola said. “They affect people’s health, their livelihoods, and their dignity.”
In many mining communities, especially on the Copperbelt, water is no longer just a natural resource — “it is a source of anxiety.” Streams once used for drinking, farming, and daily life are increasingly threatened by pollution, leaving residents caught between economic progress and environmental survival.
Recent incidents where water sources were polluted with chemicals have heightened community alarm. Yet residents often lack reliable information or platforms to amplify their concerns. While Zambia has environmental regulations, gaps in enforcement and transparency have eroded public confidence.
The CLRI programme will equip 25 journalists and media students with investigative skills tailored to environmental reporting. Participants will be supported to produce up to 10 in-depth stories that “bring hidden realities to light.”
But Hakoola stressed the project goes beyond storytelling. It is designed as a “broader accountability mechanism” that connects evidence with action. Planned multi-stakeholder forums will bring regulators, civil society, mining companies, and affected communities together to engage directly on findings from the reports.
“Investigative journalism helps uncover the truth and validate what communities are experiencing,” Hakoola said. “But real change happens when that evidence is brought into spaces where dialogue and solutions can emerge.”
The initiative is being implemented with Water Witness International and support from the Fair Water Action Fund — both focused on water security and environmental justice.
Government institutions, particularly the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, have been recognised as critical partners. Their role in strengthening compliance and promoting responsible mining is expected to complement the work of journalists and civil society.
CLRI expects the programme to reach over 300,000 people through media coverage, public engagement, and community dialogue.
Hakoola urged reporters to approach the work with “professionalism, courage, and ethical responsibility,” especially when dealing with powerful stakeholders.
“This is about telling stories that matter,” he said. “Stories that can inform policy, empower communities, and drive meaningful change.”
The Copperbelt and North-Western Province host Zambia’s largest copper mines and have a history of acid mine drainage, heavy metal contamination, and chemical spills affecting the Kafue River system and local streams. The Environmental Management Act of 2011 mandates pollution control and remediation, but enforcement has been uneven, with communities often complaining of delayed responses and limited compensation.
World Creativity and Innovation Day, celebrated on 21 April, has seen renewed calls for Zambians to apply new ideas to governance and service delivery — including environmental protection. As Zambia balances mineral-driven growth with sustainability, CLRI says investigative journalism is becoming “increasingly vital” to ensure development does not come at the cost of clean water and community well-being.
