From: barnhart@netcom.com (Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS:ZAMBIA: TOXIC WASTE DISCOVERY CAUSE
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 92 14:54:49 GMT
Organization: Netcom
Reply-To: barnhart@netcom.com

opyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: Europe, eastern
Reference: Africa, southern
Title: ZAMBIA: TOXIC WASTE DISCOVERY CAUSE FOR REGIONAL CONCERN


lusaka, aug 11 (ips/jowie mwiinga) -- the discovery of a complex
pollution problem here involving a toxic waste dump could
eventually pave the way for a concerted regional approach to
tackling environmental problems.

fifty tonnes of toxic waste has lain for 10-years uncovered
in the city's industrial area, surrounded by neighbouring
townships.

a recent meeting of environmental experts from zambia,
malawi, mozambique, south africa and zimbabwe agreed the need
for the purchase of an industrial incinerator to be shared by
the southern african region to deal with such problems that each
agriculture-based country faces.

''the task force was unanimous in recommending the
procurement of a regional incinerator. all that is required now
is for our governments to work out the mechanisms of how this
will be implemented'', according to agro-chemicals association
of zambia chair pumelelo malumo.

he however notes that this is far from an instant solution,
and will take time to set up. agreement will have to be reached
on where the incinerator will be established, and how dangerous
waste from the countries of the sub-region will be transported
for incineration.

meanwhile, the dump, comprising mosty pesticides discarded
by the now defunct national agricultural marketing board
(namboard) has until now been ignored by government, unable to
devise a safe method of disposal.

it has neither been covered to prevent arial diffusion or
buried in a cement lined pit to help stop the chemicals seeping
into the soil during the wet season.

experts suspect that untold damage has been caused to the
environment as the pesticides soak down to the water table, and
fear that residents of the area may have been contaminated.

the chemical dump includes some inappropriate pesticides
obtained from the donor community and, it is suspected, others
procured by unscrupulous government officials who knowingly
imported dangerous pesticides banned in the west for a kickback
from the suppliers.

the agro-chemical association is consequently making
enquiries with the zambia national tender board to assertain
what exactly was imported, malumo said. (more/ips)


zambia: government (2)

the disclosure of the dump's existence has sparked indignant
protest from the public, with experts slamming the former
government of president kenneth kaunda, overturned in last
october's elections.

cleaning up the dump poses a serious problem for the
authorities. nobody is aware of the exact nature of the chemical
cocktail that has been brewing for a decade. suggestions for
disposal down a disused mine-shaft or buried under concrete have
been rejected.

the chemicals can only be destroyed by incineration, but no
country in the sub-region and possibly the entire country
pocesses one, the zambia co-operative federation (zcf), which
inherited all namboard property, including the dump, notes.

''if we are going to incinerate the waste we may have to
transport it to europe or get an incinerator from there'', zcf
secretary-general grieve sibale said.

the incinerator required would have to be able to burn the
chemicals at a temperature of 2,000 degrees celcius with an
exposure time of five seconds.

last month, environmental minister keli walubita contracted a
lusaka firm to conduct a study and come up with ways of
disposing of the waste locally. however, zcf rejected his
proposals.

''we rejected the proposals because we have tried them
ourselves and they do not work'', sibale explained.

the company had recommended that the waste be stored in
sealed containers to arrest contamination. but ''a measure of
contamination persists even when they are sealed'', said sibale
and has abandoned this approach.

the agro-chemicals association, meanwhile, has dismissed as
unrealistic a three-week deadline the government has imposed on
itself to dispose of the waste.

''this problem has been around for years and the entire
region, including south africa, has failed to find a solution.
what kind of magic wand is the minister going to use?'' malumo
asked.

malumo said other temporary solutions could be explored, but
that it was unlikely that anything but incineration would ensure
that the waste was safely dealt with.

until that happens, the indications are that the one million
residents of zambia's capital will remain at risk caused by one
of the country's more shocking instances of industrial
irresponsibility. (end/ips/jm/oa/92)

-- 
Aaron (Barnhart@netcom.com) -- posting from Evanston, Illinois