India, March 18 -- Early on February 18th, communities in Zambia's Copperbelt Province confronted an environmental catastrophe that shattered their economic security overnight. A massive failure at Sino-Metals Leach Zambia, a mine operated by China Nonferrous Metals Industry Group, released around 50 million litres of toxic acidic waste into the Mwambashi River. The spill swiftly poisoned vital water sources, wiped out fish and wildlife populations, and destroyed vast areas of agricultural land, severely impacting local livelihoods and ecological health.

The Chambishi disaster has cast a stark spotlight on the deeper vulnerabilities facing Zambia-economic dependency on Chinese investments coupled with crippling debt obligations. Zambia o...