CEJ DEMANDS JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF MANGANESE POISONING AT MANGANESE PLANT IN SERENJE
By Patricia Mbewe
The Center for Environmental Justice -CEJ- has given Southern African Ferro Alloys Limited Manganese Processing Plant in Serenje District up to 20th December 2024 to fully compensate all the 271 workers who were exposed to manganese poisoning at the company.
271 workers at the manganese processing plant were affected by manganese poisoning after the company used a harmful chemical to enhance the grading of its manganese, leaving the workers with loss of balance, loss of speech, tremors, severe neurological damage and other health complications.
CEJ is also demanding that Southern African Ferro Alloys Limited provides a comprehensive compensation package for all affected individuals, covering medical care, long term health support and fair compensation for loss of income and permanent disability.
Addressing the media in Lusaka this morning, CEJ Executive Director Maggie Mwape is also demanding for evacuation of the 35 critical victims for specialized treatment and wants immediate action to be taken from the responsible state agencies in suspending the manganese operations until stringent compliance measures are implemented to guarantee mine safety.
Ms. Mwape says her organization is further demanding that Southern African Ferro Alloys Limited fully commits to a comprehensive clean-up of contaminated areas, provide financial and material support to restore community livelihoods and health services.
She has warned that failure to meet these demands by December 20th 2024 will result in CEJ taking legal action against the mining company.
PHOENIX NEWS
Home Business