-J1-

IN THE HIGH COURT FOR 2AMBIA 200?JHPJ12S6

AT THE PRINCIPAL REGISTRY
AT LUSAKA

(CIvII JurIsdIctIon)

BETWEEN:

JAMES NYASULU AND 2000 OTHERS PLAINTIFF

AND
KONKOLA COPPER MINES PLC 1
ST
DEFENDANT
ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL OF 2AMBIA 2
ND
DEFENDANT
CHINGOLA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL 3
RD
DEFENDANT

BEFORE HON. MR. JUSTICE PHILLIP MUSONDA

Fo tIc Punts. M. K.F. Huuu o KHF Putncs

Fo tIc st Dccndunt. M. A. CIcuc o MNH

Fo tIc Sccond Dccndunt. Ms. I. Z. MIcuc o Hcnu Lcgu Pucttoncs

Fo tIc TId Dccndunt. M. M. CIIunguu o AMC Lcgu Pucttoncs

Coses Re]erred To:

(J) Donogue Vs S1evenson (J9S2) AC St2.

(2) B1g1 Vs B1rm1ngom Wo1eruorKs (JSSt) JJ C ?SJ.

(S) M1ooe1 C11u]go So1o Vs 2omb1o Bo111ers L1m11ed, SC2 No. J o]
2DDS.

(4) Con11nen1o1 Res1ouron1 ond Cos1no L1m11ed Vs Ar1do Merog
Ar1do Cu1u, SC2J No. 2S o] 2DDD.

(S) Rg1onds Vs F1e1oer (JStS) LR S HC SSD.

(t) A1poue11 L1m11ed Vs Wooduord (J9?2) AC S24.

(?) Go1un1o Forms L1m11ed Vs No11ono1 M1111ng Corporo11on L1m11ed
(2DD4) 2R J.

-J2-

(S) Combr1dge Wo1er Compong L1m11ed Vs os1ern Coun1r1es
Leo1er PLC (J99S) ABC CR J2JD9.
(9) Greenmon Vs Yubo Pouer Produo1s, S9 Co1 2S? (J9tS).

Leg1s1o11on Re]erred To:

nv1ronmen1o1 Pro1eo11on ond Po11u11on Con1ro1 Cop1er 2D4 o] 1e Lous
o] 2omb1o Seo11ons 22 ond 24.



J U D G M E N T


TIis was an aciion ly 2000 Plainiiffs wIo wcrc rcsidcnis of
CIingola, wIosc sourcc of waicr was a sircam in wIicI iIc firsi
dcfcndani was discIarging iIc afflucncc from iis mining ocraiions.
TIc sccond and iIird dcfcndanis wcrc rcosiiorics of siaiuiory
duiics. TIc sccond dcfcndani ii is allcgcd failcd or ncglccicd io
carry oui inscciion or sucrvisc iIc ics in qucsiion, rcgularly io
mcci iIc rcquircd accciallc siandards and cnsurc iIai no lcalagc
or sillagc occurrcd.

TIc iIird dcfcndani failcd io ialc adcquaic mcasurcs io
miiigaic and conirol iIc cffccis of iIc olluiion of waicr suly ly
mainiaining sufficicni waicr rcscrvcs. TIis causcd grcai ain and
suffcring io iIc lainiiffs as iIc local auiIoriiy collccis Iugc
-J3-

amounis of raics from iIc firsi dcfcndani wIicI lcncfii iIc
lainiiffs musi cnjoy.

On 13
iI
Dcccmlcr 2010, wIcn iIc maiicr camc u for irial Mr.
CIilangula in cross-caminaiion of PW1, iIc wiincss siaicd iIai
CIingola Municial Council is noi a sulicr of waicr io Mulonga
Waicr, wIicI was a limiicd comany. Mr. CIiicla graciously
conccdcd. TIc couri disjoincd iIc iIird dcfcndani. TIc aciion
iIcrcforc is againsi iIc firsi and sccond dcfcndanis.

PW1 was Daison Mulcnga a rciircd mincr. Hc icsiificd iIai in
Novcmlcr 2006 iIcrc was no waicr suly for icn days in Kalundi.
Mulonga Waicr, Sulicd iIcm wiiI waicr umcd from Kafuc
Fivcr. WIcn Ic inquircd from Mulonga Waicr, Ic was iold iIai
iIcy Iad sIui oui waicr lccausc of olluiion wIicI was causcd ly
KCM. Hc Iad siomacI ains and diarIorrca and cIcsi ains wIcn
Ic dranl iIc waicr and Iis sigIi was affccicd. Hc wcni io NcIanga
HcaliI Ccnirc wIcrc iIc docior rcscrilcd Duscoan and Ic wcni
lacl Iomc. Laicr govcrnmcni sci u a commiiicc wIicI
rccommcndcd comcnsaiion wIicI Ias noi lccn aid. TIcrc was
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no mcdical rcori givcn and wIcn Ic aslcd Ic was iold ii was a
comany documcni and Ic was noi cniiilcd io ii as rigIi.

TIc cvidcncc as laid ly PW2 (lainiiff} was iIai somciimc in
Novcmlcr 2006, lui lcforc iIc 6
iI
, wIcn waicr was swiicIcd off
iIcrc was a foul smcll. WIcn iIc waicr was loilcd iIcrc wcrc
lulllcs wIicI could noi go away wIcn coolcd. Ii was laicr rcalizcd
iIai iIc waicr was coniaminaicd ly iIc firsi dcfcndani. TIcy wcrc
noi informcd ly iIc iIird dcfcndani wIy iIc waicr was siocd.
TIcy rclicd on lorcIolcs. WIcn iIc wiincss iravcllcd io
CIililalomlwc Ic noiiccd iIai iIc sioncs Iad cIangcd colour,
wIicI cIangc was causcd ly oidcs. WIcn Ic and Iis family dranl
iIc waicr, iIcy suffcrcd from diarIorrca. TIc family rcccivcd
ircaimcni from iIc clinic. Hc was noi givcn a mcdical rcori. TIc
waicr was uscd for cooling, drinling and laiIing. TIc fisI in iIc
Kafuc Fivcr was dying. TIc wiincss Iad worlcd for KCM as a
gcological assisiani for 34 ycars.

PW3 was Silu Nlamlalumc. Hc icsiificd iIai in Novcmlcr
2006 Ic wcni io iIc ficld. His wifc wcni io draw waicr from Kafuc
Fivcr for cooling, laiIing and drinling. TIc following day Ic fcli
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ain in Iis siomacI and Iad a running siomacI, including iIc
cIildrcn. Hc wcni io Kaloswc Clinic in CIililamlwc. Hc was laicr
informcd ly Dr. Kalungo of Kaloso Clinic iIai iIc waicr was
olluicd. Hc was givcn wIiic, orangc iallcis and oral dcIydraiion
salis. Hc Iowcvcr coniinucd ccricncing ain in iIc siomacI.
TIc clinic rcfuscd io givc Iim a mcdical rcori. TIc mcdical siaff
iold Iim iIcy could lc dismisscd if iIcy gavc Iim a mcdical rcori.

PW4 was Davics MoncsIa, a casani farmcr. Hc icsiificd
iIai Ic wcni io iIc ficld wiiI Iis wifc. TIc waicr iasicd liiicr,
wIicI was drawn for drinling and cooling. WIcn iIcy wcni io iIc
rivcr, iIcy found sioncs and rccds Iad cIangcd iIcir colour. Hc
laicr Iad diarIorrca, vomiiing and a running siomacI. Hc was
ialcn io Kaloswc Clinic. Hc was ircaicd, lui iIc Iosiial siaff
rcfuscd io givc Iim a mcdical rcori as iIcy fcarcd io lc dismisscd.

PW5 was Ccorgc Mumli currcnily a farmcr, wIo worlcd for
KCM in iIc analyiical laloraiory for 31 ycars. His duiics wcrc io
analyzc cIcmical, qualiiaiivc, quaniiiaiivc and mincral analysis. Ii
mcani roving iIc qualiiy of iIc cIcmical or a ariicular mincral in
iIc samlc. In Iis oinion waicr fii for Iuman consumiion sIould
-J6-

coniain 6.9 7.3 acidic or allalinc and is cIaracicrizcd as ncuiral.
WIcn olluiion moniiors arc iriggcrcd and iIc PH is low you add
limc. In Iis oinion iIcrc was gross ncgligcncc io iIc cnvironmcni
io run ocraiions wiiIoui limc. WIcn iIai Iacncd in ZCCM and
NCCM days, iIc Tailing LcacI Plani and iIc Conccniraior wcrc
sIui io avoid damagc io iIc cnvironmcni and IcaliI. TIc fisI and
oiIcr marincs dicd, crocodilcs cscacd. TIc firsi dcfcndani was
rcsonsillc.

PW6 was JoIn Lungu, a rofcssor in Dusincss ScIool. Hc is a
rcscarcIcr in cconomics of ullic cIoicc, iIai is iIc wcigIing of
lcncfiis and ncgaiivcs of an cconomic aciiviiy. Polluiion is icrmcd
as a ncgaiivc cicrnaliiy. TIc olluiion affccicd a numlcr of
colc. TIc Environmcnial Council of Zamlia did inicrvcnc, so did
iIc CIingola Municial Council. Somc colc suffcrcd from slin
discascs and diarIorrca. KCM coniinucd roducing iIcir cocr
wIcn colc could noi draw waicr or caicI fisI. Mulonga sIui
iIcir ocraiions for si days and iIc communiiy was luying waicr.
TIc firsi and sccond dcfcndani's counscl did noi cross-caminc
Iim.

-J7-

PW7 was Jamcs Nyasulu a ouliry farmcr. Hc icsiificd iIai
duc io olluiion waicr was cui off from iIc scrvicc rovidcr closc io
icn days and in somc arcas si days. TIc waicr was coniaminaicd
wiiI minc afflucncc. Hc consumcd iIc waicr and fcll ill. OiIcr
consumcrs of iIis waicr wcrc admiiicd io Konlola Hosiial. Hc
mcniioncd iIc namcs as Nora Kalosa, Silu Nlomlalumc, TIomas
Kalaso and Tcrcsa Mulcnga. Laicr a mcciing was convcncd and
iIc Two TIousand Pcolc dccidcd io suc. TIai was iIc lainiiff's
casc.

DW1 was Assa Mulcnga a Plani Managcr Tailing Dam. Hc
Iolds a DSC in Elccirical and MccIanical Enginccring. Hc Ias
worlcd for ZCCM sincc 2007, mcaning wIcn iIc olluiion iool
lacc Ic was noi in cmloymcni. Hc gavc cvidcncc as io iIc currcni
roccdurc of ircaiing afflucncc. Hc admiiicd in cross-caminaiion
iIai Ic could noi scal as an cyc wiincss of iIc 2006 olluiion
wIcn Ic was cmloycd in 2007.

DW2 was Moscs Munlondya, iIc cnvironmcnial co-ordinaior.
Hc Ias worlcd for KCM sincc 2004. Hc worlcd wiiI ZCCM in iIc
gcology dcarimcni, laicr swiicIcd jols and wcni inio
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cnvironmcnial managcmcni. Hc worlcd as an cnvironmcnial
officcr uniil 2004 and in 2005 Ic was romoicd as cnvironmcnial
co-ordinaior for NcIanga and CIingola. In 2008, Ic was movcd io
cororaic mining Hcad Officc.

Hc is a crafisman in survcy drafiing from Cocrlcli
Univcrsiiy. Hc managcs wasic air qualiiy, Ic moniiors rcsourcc
conscrvaiion. Hc icsiificd iIai on 6
iI
Novcmlcr 2006, iIcrc was a
ruiurc of Miima iailing iclinc numlcr 3 ncar Mwaiscni irading
arca ai final discIargc oini. TIcrc was liiilc discIargc and
invcsiigaiions wcrc launcIcd. TIc comany discovcrcd iIis wiiIin
a fcw Iours. TIc lani was sIui as iIc firsi sic io quiclly sio iIc
discIargc. TIc maicrial in iIc ic was acidic and limc was
molilizcd and a icam io figIi olluiion. Limc was addcd ai
siraicgic oinis.

Hc said ii was unlilcly iIai iIc afflucncc goi inio colc's ias
lccausc iIcy ncuiralizcd and cocr sulIaic was formcd, lluc in
colour. Hc wcni on iIai iIcy wcrc ocraiing on ccmicd
aramcicrs from Environmcnial Council of Zamlia.

-J9-

DW3 was JoscI Salala, wIo was Environmcnial Council of
Zamlia Managcr Insccioraic ai iIc iimc. Hc Iolds a DSC in
cIcmisiry and osi-graduaic in managcmcni. On 6
iI
Novcmlcr
2006, Ic goi a call iIai iIcrc was olluiion of Kafuc Fivcr. Hc rang
Iis officcrs io go and cIccl. TIc olluiion occurrcd on iIc Iill. Ii
was flowing inio CIingola. TIc Fcgulaiions say lowcr acid musi lc
discIargcd. In iIis casc ii was 2.8 wIicI was vcry acidic. From
Ociolcr iIc discIargc Iad lccn IigIly acidic. Hc rcoricd io Iis
Dirccior wIo wroic io iIc firsi dcfcndani io ccasc ocraiions. TIcy
Iad allowcd CIililalomlwc wIicI was dcwaicring iIrcc million
liircs cr day an allowancc from 100 mg io 154 mg cr liirc, lui for
CIingola ii siill rcmaincd ai 100 mg cr liirc. TIc wiincss gavc
allowallc figurcs, dissolvcd sulIaic lciwccn 6 9, 1,500 mg cr
liirc cocr, ioial mangancsc 1 mg, colali 1 mg, ioial suscndcd
mg, iron 2 mg, sulIaic 3,000 mg cr liirc.

Any cccss of iIcsc lcvcls will causc Iarm io fisI, frogs,
crocodilcs, Iios, aquaiic lanis and will Iarm colc wIo usc iIc
waicr for drinling, wasIing and agriculiural uroscs. TIc
siruciurcs in iIc rivcr, lilc loais, lridgcs, ics may lc corrodcd.
On 6
iI
Novcmlcr 2006, wIai was found was lcyond iIc siaiuiory
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rovision. TIc fisI was dying and somc colc aic iIai fisI. TIc
waicr was lluisI and grccnisI and along iIc cdgcs iIcrc wcrc
rcciiiaics of cocr sulIaic. TIc waicr Iad coniaminanis
lcyond iIcsc limiis. TIc Environmcnial Council Iad wriiicn io
KCM, iIis is wIy iIcy sIoricncd iIc liccncc from onc ycar io si
moniIs. Documcniary cvidcncc was roduccd wiiIoui oljcciion.

In cross caminaiion iIc dcfcncc wiincss siaicd iIai iIc
discIargc was 6 9. TIc comany Iad low siocls of limc, lui
coniinucd discIarging IigIly acidic sulsianccs in iIc cnvironmcni.
OiIcr mincs Iad no rollcm wiiI iIc suly of limc. Hc wcni on
iIai KCM, Ndola limc, non-fcrrous mcials of CIina wcrc noi
comliani. TIcy wcrc suoscd io lc sulmiiiing samlcs of
afflucncc cvcry wccl. TIc Environmcnial Council did noi rcccivc
iIc rcsulis. TIcy iIcrcforc ui iIcsc comanics on moniIly
scruiiny. TIai was iIc dcfcncc's casc.

Ii was sulmiiicd for iIc lainiiffs rclying on iIc lcad casc in
ncgligcncc Donogue Vs S1evenson
(1}
, in wIicI Lord Ailin siaicd
iIai.

-J11-

.gou mus1 1oKe reosonob1e oore 1o ovo1d oo1s or
om1ss1ons u1o gou oon reosonob1g ]orsee uou1d
11Ke1g 1o 1n]ure gour ne1gbour. Wo, 1en, 1n 1ou, 1s
gour ne1gbor?. Te onsuer seems 1o be persons
uo ore o1ose1g ond d1reo11g o]]eo1ed bg gour oo1,
1o1 gou oug1 reosonob1g 1o ove 1em 1n gour
oon1emp1o11on 1o be o]]eo1ed, uen gou ore d1reo11ng
gour m1nd 1o 1e oo1s or om1ss1ons 1o1 ore oo11ed 1n
ques11on"

Ii was argucd iIai iIc siandard of carc dcmandcd ly iIc law
is iIai of a rcasonallc man and noi of crfcciion. In iIc casc of
B1g1 Vs B1rm1ngom Wo1eruorKs
(2}
ii was siaicd iIai.

Neg11genoe 1s 1e om1ss1on 1o do some11ng u1o o
reosonob1e mon, gu1ded upon 1ose oons1dero11ons,
u1o ord1nor11g regu1o1e 1e oonduo1 o] umon
o]]o1rs, uou1d do, or do1ng some11ng, u1o o
pruden1 ond reosonob1e mon uou1d no1 do. Te
s1ondord demonded 1s 1us no1 o] per]eo11on bu1 o]
reosonob1eness. 11 1s on ob]eo11ve s1ondord 1oK1ng
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no ooooun1 o] 1e de]endon1's 1noompe1enoe - e
mog do 1e bes1 e oon ond s1111 be ]ound 1o be
neg11gen1"

In iIc casc of M1ooe1 C11u]go So1o Vs 2omb1o Bo111ers
L1m11ed
(3}
, iIc couri said.

For 1e p1o1n11]] 1o be en1111ed 1o domoges 1n 1e
1or1 o] neg11genoe, 11 os 1o be es1ob11sed 1o1 e or
se os su]]ered some 1n]urg, ]o11ure 1o u1o
domoges u111 no1 be ouorded"

Plainiiffs lilc in iIis casc musi Iavc aciually consumcd iIc
drinl and in conscqucncc suffcrcd injury io succccd.

In iIc casc of Con11nen1o1 Res1ouron1 ond Cos1no L1m11ed
Vs Ar1do Merog Cu1u
(4}
. TIc couri rciicraicd iIc faci iIai iIc
lainiiff Ias a duiy io lring crcdillc cvidcncc. Ii was Mr. Dwalya's
sulmission iIai iIc lainiiffs Iavc in faci crcdillc cvidcncc, roving
iIai iIcy did consumc coniaminaicd waicr and iIai iIcy did gci
sicl, as wcll as suffcr from various slin discascs, siomacI ains,
cyc irriiaiions and gcncral ncrvous discascs.
-J13-


Hc wcni on io ciic iIc Mincs and Mincrals Dcvclomcni
Fcgulaiions 2008 issucd ursuani io iIc Mincs and Mincrals
Dcvclomcni Aci No. 7 of 2008 Fcgulaiions 23(2} 4 siaics iIai.

Te o1der so11 be 11ob1e ]or ong orm or domoge
ooused bg ong m1n1ng or m1nero1 prooess1ng
opero11on ond so11 oompenso1e ong person 1o uom
orm or domoge 1s ooused"

Common law laccs a sirici duiy of carc on any crson wIo
lrings onio iIc land anyiIing wIicI can causc Iarm if ii cscacs.
Lord Dlacllurn in Rg1onds Vs F1e1oer
(5}
said.

Te 1rue ru1e o] 1ou 1s, 1o1 1e person uo ]or 1s
oun purposes br1ngs on 1s 1onds ond oo11eo1s ond
Keeps 1ere ong11ng 11Ke1g 1o do m1so1e] 1] 11
esoopes, mus1 Keep 11 1n o1 1s per11, ond e 1s pr1mo
]oo1e onsuerob1e ]or o11 1e domoge u1o 1s 1e
no1uro1 oonsequenoe o] 11s esoope"

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Ii was furiIcr sulmiiicd iIai, iIc firsi dcfcndani commiiicd
an offcncc undcr nv1ronmen1o1 Pro1eo11on ond Po11u11on Ao1
Cop1er 2D4 o] 1e Lous o] 2omb1o Seo11on 2 siaics iIai.

No person mog d1soorge or opp1g ong prov1s1ons,
1o1o, ero11o, obno1ous or obs1ruo11ng mo11er,
rod1o11on or o1er po11u1on1 or perm11 ong person 1o
dump or d1soorge suo mo11er or po11u1on1 1n1o
oquo11o env1ronmen1 1n oon1roven11on o] 1e uo1er
po11u11on oon1ro1 s1ondords es1ob11sed bg 1e
oouno11 under 11s por1"
TIc Waicr Polluiion Conirol Fcgulaiions 1993 issucd
ursuani io iIc Environmcnial Proicciion and Polluiion Aci
CIaicr 204 of iIc Laws of Zamlia, olluiani is dcfincd as.

Ang subs1onoe or energg u1o 1] 11 en1ers or 1s
d1soorged 1n1o uo1er mog oouse d1soom]or1 1o or
endonger 1e eo11, so]e1g ond ue1]ore o] persons
or mog oouse 1n]urg or domoge 1o p1on1 or on1mo1
11]e or proper1g, or u1o mog 1n1er]ere
unreosonob1g u11 1e normo1 en]ogmen1 o] 11]e, or
-J15-

proper1g or oonduo1 or bus1ness ond 1ose ob]eo1s or
subs1onoe os mog obs1ruo1 or d1ver1 1e no1uro1 ]1ou
o] uo1er oourse uen d1soorged or dumped 1n1o 11"

In iIis ariicular casc, iIc olluiion was donc in iIc waicr
and was consumcd ly iIc lainiiffs.

In iIc casc of A1pooe11 L1m11ed Vs Wooduord
(t)
, wIcrc iIc
dcfcndanis wcrc cIargcd wiiI causing olluicd maiicr io cnicr a
rivcr conirary io Scciion 2 of iIc Fivcrs (Prcvcniion of Polluiion} Aci
1951. TIc rivcr Iad in faci lccn olluicd lccausc a ic connccicd
io iIc dcfcndani's faciory Iad lccn lloclcd, and iIc dcfcndanis
Iad noi lccn ncgligcni, Lord Salmon siaicd.

1] 11s oppeo1 suooeeded ond 11 uere e1d 1o be 1e
1ou 1o1 no oonv1o11on be ob1o1ned under 1e J9SJ
Ao1 un1ess 1e proseou11on oou1d d1soorge 1e o]1en
1mposs1b1e onus o] prov1ng 1o1 1e po11u11on uos
ooused 1n1en11ono11g or neg11gen11g, o greo1 deo1 o]
po11u11on uou1d go unpun1sed, unde1erred 1o 1e
re11e] o] mong r1por1on ]oo1org ouners. As o resu11,
mong r1vers u1o ore nou ]111g uou1d beoome
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]1111er s1111 ond mong r1vers u1o ore nou o1eon
uou1d 1ose 1e1r o1eon11ness. Te 1eg1s1o1ure no
doub1 reoogn1zed 1o1 os o mo11er o] pub11o po11og
11s uou1d be mos1 un]or1uno1e. Henoe Seo11on 2 (J)
(o) u1o enoouroges r1por1on ]oo1org ouners no1
on1g 1o 1oKe reosonob1e s1eps 1o preven1 po11u11on,
bu1 1o do everg11ng poss1b1e 1o ensure 1o1 1eg do
no1 oouse 11"

Ii was valianily argucd iIai iIis ariicular casc is maicrially
similar wiiI iIc rcscni casc. TIis couri was urgcd io Iold iIc firsi
dcfcndanis liallc so as io dcicr fuiurc olluiions of our rivcrs.

In rcscci of iIc sccond dcfcndani, ii was argucd ly Mr.
Dwalya iIai, ii was ncglcci of duiy for iIc sccond dcfcndani failcd
io rosccuic iIc firsi dcfcndani. TIc sccond dcfcndani failcd io
cnforcc iIc condiiions of iIc liccncc. TIcy failcd io roicci iIc
communiiy.

For iIc firsi dcfcndani, ii was sulmiiicd iIai iIc failurc of iIc
firsi dcfcndani's dcfcncc noiwiiIsianding docs noi cniiilc iIc
lainiiffs io judgmcni. TIc casc of Go1un1o Forms L1m11ed Vs
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No11ono1 M1111ng Corporo11on L1m11ed
(7}
, ii was argucd iIai iIcrc
was no duiy owcd. TIcrc was no failurc io aiiain iIc siandard of
carc rcscrilcd ly iIc law iIcrcly commiiiing a lrcacI of sucI
duiy, iIai iIcrc sIould lc damagc. Mr. CIcwc ciicd M1ooe1
C11u]go So1o Vs 2omb1o Bo111ers L1m11ed supro and
Con11nen1o1 Res1ouron1 ond Cos1no L1m11ed Vs Ar1do Merog
Cu1u supro. TIcsc cascs laid lcgal rincilcs rcgarding iIc law of
ncgligcncc and iIcsc rincilcs Iavc alrcady lccn dcali wiiI.

Ii was sulmiiicd iIai iIc couri's lusincss is noi io cngagc in
adminisiraiivc funciions of olicing iIc ocraiions of indusiry. TIc
Housc of Lords in Combr1dge Wo1er Compong L1m11ed Vs
os1ern Coun1r1es Leo1er PLC
(S)
. Lord Colf said.

11 1s o] por11ou1or re1evonoe 1o1 1e presen1 oose 1s
oonoerned u11 env1ronmen1o1 po11u11on. Te
pro1eo11on ond preservo11on o] 1e env1ronmen1 1s
nou peroe1ved os be1ng o] oruo1o1 1mpor1onoe 1o 1e
]u1ure o] monK1nd: ond pub11o bod1es, bo1 no11ono1
ond 1n1erno11ono1, ore 1oK1ng s1eps 1ouords 1e
es1ob11smen1 o] 1eg1s1o11on u1o u111 promo1e 1e
-J18-

pro1eo11on o] 1e env1ronmen1, ond moKe 1e po11u1er
pog ]or 1e domoge 1o 1e env1ronmen1 ]or u1o e
1s respons1b1e-os oon be seen ]rom Wor1d Heo11
Orgon1zo11on, uropeon Commun11g ond No11ono1
Leg1s1o11on. Bu1 11 does no1 ]o11ou ]rom 1ese
deve1opmen1s, 1o1 o oommon 1ou pr1no1p1e, suo os
1e ru1e 1n Rg1ond Vs F1e1oer supro, sou1d be
deve1oped or rendered more s1r1o1 1o prov1de ]or
11ob1111g 1n respeo1 o] suo po11u11on. On 1e
oon1rorg, g1ven 1o1 so muo ue11-1n]ormed ond
oore]u11g s1ruo1ured 1eg1s1o11on 1s nou be1ng pu1 1n
p1ooe ]or 11s purpose, 1ere 1s 1ess need ]or oour1s
1o deve1op 1e oommon 1ou pr1no1p1e 1o oo1eve 1e
some end ond 1ndeed 11 mog ue11 be undes1rob1e 1o1
1eg sou1d go"

TIcrc wcrc no sulmissions for iIc iIird dcfcndani as iIcy
wcrc disjoincd from iIc rocccdings.

Lci mc from iIc ouisci draw a disiinciion lciwccn ncgligcncc
wIcrc somciIing cscacs and docs Iarm and roduci lialiliiy
-J19-

wIcrc a roduci for consumiion is rclcascd on iIc marlci and
docs Iarm. TIcsc arc ioo diffcrcni conccis. TIc casc of
Greenmon Vs Yubo Pouer Produo1s
(9}
ciicd on lcIalf of iIc
lainiiffs is oui of conici.

TIc lainiiffs Iad callcd viciims of iIc olluiion and ccri
cvidcncc io sIow iIai iIcrc was olluiion. TIis faci was admiiicd
ly DW2 and DW3, iIougI DW2 wanicd io marginalizc iIc cicni of
iIc discIargc. TIcrc was mcdical cvidcncc consisicni wiiI iIc
cvidcncc scc PP. 25-30 lainiiffs' lundlc of documcnis. DW3 gavc
damning cvidcncc of firsi dcfcndani's ncgligcncc and alsorlcd
sccond dcfcndani wIo according io Iim Iad warncd iIc firsi
dcfcndani and unisIcd iIc firsi dcfcndani ly noi giving iIcm a
ycar's liccncc. TIcy Iad lccn aslcd io rovidc analyiical rcoris of
iIcir discIargc, lui did noi comly. TIc sccond dcfcndani could
iIcrcforc noi lc said io Iavc failcd io crform iIcir siaiuiory duiy.
TIcrc was scrious failing ly iIc firsi dcfcndani, in iIai iIcy
cmloycd an ill-qualificd cnvironmcnial coordinaior 'a crafisman in
survcy drafiing', noi scIoolcd in cnvironmcnial roicciion. Hc was
an incrcdillc wiincss. TIcy did noi add limc io iIc discIargc, wIcn
limc was alundani on iIc marlci, wIcn iIcy vcry wcll lncw iIai,
-J20-

iIai aci or omission would Iarm Iuman and animal lifc and
aquaiic lanis.

TIcrc was gross rccllcssncss, wIciIcr Iuman lcings dicd or
noi. TIcy dcrivcd iIc communiiy in CIingola iIc rigIi io lifc,
wIicI is fundamcnial rigIi in our consiiiuiion. TIcy disrcgardcd
cnvironmcnial lcgislaiion ai a iimc, wIcn iIcrc is conccricd
inicrnaiional cffori csccially ly iIc Uniicd Naiions Environmcnial
Program (UNEP} io roicci iIc cnvironmcni. SucI disrcgard for
Iuman lifc was rcccivcd ly iIis couri wiiI a scnsc of ouiragc.

TIc firsi dcfcndani musi larc moral, criminal and civil lialiliiy
for iIis aalling iragcdy. Hcrc is a Muliinaiional Enicrrisc,
wIicI Ias no rcgard for Iuman lifc for iIc salc of rofii and iurncd
iIc rcsidcnis of CIingola inio GuInea PIgs" and sIowcd no
rcmorsc. In iIcir counirics of origin sucI rccllcssncss would Iavc
lccn visiicd ly scvcrc criminal and civil sanciions.

Mr. CIcwc ciicd iIc casc of Combr1dge Wo1er Compong
L1m11ed Vs os1ern Coun1r1es Leo1er PLC supro. Hc scriously
misundcrsiood iIc icnor of Lord Coff's judgmcni. All wIai Lord
Coff was saying was iIai Environmcnial Proicciion" is a glolal
-J21-

issuc, iIai mosi counirics Iavc domcsiically lcgislaicd and as
mcmlcrs of iIc Uniicd Naiions Iavc signcd iIc Uniicd Naiions
roiocols. TIcrc is liiilc room for judicial inicrvcniion, Judgcs now
Iavc io inicrrci siaiuiory rovisions. In iIis casc Scciions 22 and
24 iIc formcr dcfincs a olluiani, iIai laicr crcaics an offcncc io
discIargc or alicaiion of any oisonous ioic, croioic, olnoious
or olsiruciing maiicr cic.

Ii is my vicw iIc Environmcnial Proicciion and Polluiion
Conirol CIaicr 204 iIc Laws of Zamlia is sclf-sufficicni io dcal
wiiI iIc rcscni siiuaiion. TIc lainiiffs Iavc rovcd iIcir casc
againsi iIc firsi dcfcndani in Common Law and Siaiuiory Law, iIai
iIc firsi dcfcndani was rccllcss and Iad no rcgard for Iuman,
animal and lani lifc. TIc only IyoiIcsis for a owcrful
muliinaiional io suoscdly aci wiiI imuniiy and immuniiy, is
iIai iIcy iIougIi iIcy wcrc oliiically corrcci and connccicd.
TIcsc couris Iavc a duiy io roicci oor communiiics from iIc
owcrful and oliiically connccicd. I agrcc wiiI iIc lainiiffs'
lcadings in aragraI cigIi of iIc siaicmcni of claim, iIai iIc firsi
dcfcndani was sIicldcd from criminal rosccuiion ly oliiical
-J22-

conncciions and financial influcncc, wIicI ui iIcm lcyond iIc
alc of criminal jusiicc.

TIis vcry lcading clains iIc difficuliy Environmcnial
Council of Zamlia as Covcrnmcnial Agcncy noi insulaicd from
oliiical conirol ocraic and ocraicd undcr difficuli circumsianccs.
TIcy did iIc lcsi iIcy could ly sIuiiing KCM ocraiions. I
iIcrcforc Iold iIai iIc casc againsi sccond dcfcndani is noi rovcd
as I find no ncgligcncc on iIcir ari. TIcy wcrc dcaling wiiI a
iruani invcsior. In vicw ii is noi ioo laic io rosccuic KCM and sci
an camlc. INDENI was rosccuicd in Ndola Princial Fcsidcni
Magisiraic Couri for olluiing Kalolo Sircam wIy noi KCM?.

I ordcr KCM io ay Four Million KwacIa (K4m} io cacI
lainiiff (2000 lainiiffs} as gcncral damagcs. Onc Million KwacIa
(K1m} as uniiivc damagcs, ioial Tcn Dillion KwacIa (K10 lillion}.
TIis is io dcicr oiIcrs wIo may discIargc oisonous sulsianccs
wiiIoui diminisIing iIcir oicncy noi io causc Iarm io iIc
cnvironmcni, Iuman lcings, animals, cic. I rciicraic iIai iIis was
lacl of cororaic rcsonsililiiy and criminal and a iiing oini for
cororaic rccllcssncss. Cosis will follow iIc cvcni. TIis judgmcni
-J23-

may acar io lc invcsior unfricndly, lui iIai is Iaving a dim vicw
io KCM's don'i carc aiiiiudc wIciIcr Iuman lifc wIicI sacrosanci
in our consiiiuiion was losi or noi. Inicrnaiional invcsiors sIould
olscrvc IigI cnvironmcnial siandards, iIai is a glolal aroacI.
Somc naiions lilc CIina cvcn criminalizc iIc lringing inio iIcir
counirics' olsolcic iccInology.

TIc faci iIai iIc Iosi couniry (Zamlia} is in dirc nccd of
forcign invcsimcni io imrovc iIc wcll-lcing of iis colc, docs noi
mcan iis colc sIould lc dcIumanizcd ly Greed and Crude
CapItaIIsm', wIicI uis rofii alovc Iuman lifc. TIc damagcs will
aiiraci Danl of Zamlia long-icrm dcosii raic from iIc issuancc of
iIc wrii io iIc day of judgmcni, iIcrcaficr sIori-icrm dcosii raic
uniil aymcni. Cosis will lc iacd in dcfauli of agrccmcni.

DeIIvered In Cbambers on .................2011

...................
PbIIIIp Musonda
HIGH COURT JUDGE