Residents of Tsumeb, a northern Namibian town, are enduring serious health problems linked to the long-term emissions and hazardous waste of a now-shuttered copper smelter. The smelter, formerly operated by Canadian mining company Dundee Precious Metals (DPM), was the town’s largest employer for over a decade before it was sold in August 2024 to Chinese firm Sinomine Resource Group.
Local workers in nearby citrus orchards report persistent symptoms such as burning sensations in their eyes and throats, dizziness, nausea, and headaches, which intensify when winds blow toxic fumes from the smelter site. Residents also report visible health problems in children, with skin sores being particularly common.
A Toxic Legacy
The smelter, which once provided significant employment in Tsumeb, is now blamed for poisoning the environment with toxic arsenic-laced waste. Recent laboratory tests conducted by Swiss researchers revealed dangerously high arsenic levels in the town’s soil, vegetation, and even hair samples from local residents.
“The contamination levels are deeply troubling and indicate that Tsumeb residents are exposed to substantial amounts of arsenic,” said Adrien Mestrot, a professor of soil sciences at the University of Bern.
Despite claims from DPM that it invested over $85 million to modernize the facility and reduce arsenic emissions after acquiring it in 2010, many in the community remain unconvinced. The company also asserts that arsenic exposure among workers has decreased by 72% since 2012.
Local Call for Action
However, recent findings have cast doubt on these assurances, with local communities and environmental advocates calling for accountability. The growing stockpiles of arsenic trioxide left by the smelter remain a significant concern.
As Tsumeb faces the aftermath of the smelter’s operations, residents demand further action to address the toxic legacy that endangers both the environment and their health.