The Zambia Air Force (ZAF) has concluded its ten-day operation, successfully neutralising a major pollution threat to the Kafue River following a hazardous acid effluent discharge. The daring emergency intervention, codenamed Operation “Sungulula,” has restored safety to one of Zambia’s most vital waterways and eased fears of long-term ecological damage.
Soon after the incident was reported, ZAF swiftly mobilised, deploying both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft to conduct an aerial assessment of the affected river stretch on 25 February 2025. The reconnaissance flights provided critical intelligence on the scale of the acid spill, enabling swift action in coordination with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and the Ministry of Green Economy.
With tonnes of industrial lime and trained personnel ready, ZAF escalated its response, dispatching three helicopters to carry out the delicate task of aerial lime dispersal. Flying low over the Kafue River, the aircraft meticulously spread lime neutralising agents across contaminated sections, covering a vast area from Kitwe to Mumbwa District in Central Province.
The intensive effort has successfully neutralised acid levels in the water, safeguarding aquatic life and protecting downstream communities that rely on the river for their daily needs. The Kafue River, which sustains both agriculture and industry, can now breathe a sigh of relief as the immediate environmental threat has been brought under control. Although the operation has concluded, monitoring efforts remain ongoing.
Operation “Sungulula” not only demonstrates ZAF’s growing capabilities in national disaster response but also highlights the power of multi-sectoral collaboration during crises.
The operation was launched following reports of severe water contamination in the Mwambashi and Kafue Rivers on the Copperbelt.
