Pollution in Lubumbashi: CDM in the Dock

November 2025

Between popular anger, governmental reactions and demands from local and international non-governmental organisations, the pollution case involving the company Congo Dongfang Mining, CDM, continues to fuel various discussions and criticisms of the failures observed in the Congolese environmental monitoring and control system in general and in the Greater Katanga region in particular.

For the past few days, Lubumbashi, the copper capital, has been at the centre of a major ecological scandal where several delegations from Kinshasa have been parading.

The mining company Congo Dongfang Mining (CDM), a subsidiary of the Chinese giant operating in Haut-Katanga, is being singled out for having discharged polluted water into the Kasapa district, annex commune.

This polluted water quickly spread over a large area, causing the death of several aquatic species and the drying up of certain market gardening crops.

This situation has provoked strong reactions from the people of Lubumbashi and a series of measures from the Congolese government as well as from civil society.

According to several testimonies collected and observations on the ground, industrial effluents from the CDM site flooded part of the Kasapa district, then the Moise market and other surrounding districts before discharging into local channels. These toxic waters then reached the Kamatete river, located about three (3) kilometres from the mining site, the Lubumbashi river, crossing the Kalubwe, Kipopo and Lac Tshombe districts.

After the very first visit by the Mayor of Lubumbashi, Mr Patrick Kafwimbi, and the Provincial Governor Martin Kazembe on 5 November 2025, and despite the total refusal of CDM company officials to receive these authorities, Louis Watum Kabamba, Minister of Mines, made his appearance in Lubumbashi at 2 a.m. on 6 November.

Upon arriving at Lwano airport, he immediately headed to the incriminated site to inquire about the situation, verify protection measures for numerous civilians and reassure the inhabitants neighbouring the CDM company of the national government’s support.

On the spot and in a firm tone, Louis Kabamba publicly rebuked the CDM officials who tried to provide him with superficial and light explanations that he did not appreciate. After granting an audience to the parties concerned, the Minister of Mines announced the following conservative measures:

1. The CDM company is suspended from all activity for 3 months while the various services conduct investigations.
2. Workers will be paid normally during this 3-month period of activity suspension.

In the meantime, voices are rising from everywhere in the DRC to demand the withdrawal of the mining exploitation permit from this Chinese company.

By Jeef Kazadi and Stephane Mpidisi