Activist, Kearns, calls for environmental crime unit in Zambia police

Environmental activist, Nsama Kearns, has urged the government to establish an environmental crimes unit within the Zambia Police to enhance environmental justice and accountability.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Kearns stated the need to treat environmental crimes with the seriousness they deserved.

She argued that integrating such cases into the police system would allow affected communities to report incidents more efficiently.

“We recommend that environmental crimes be handled by the Zambia Police so that people affected can quickly file a report at the nearest police station,” she said.

“Kearns proposed that the unit be structured similarly to the Victim Support Unit (VSU) to facilitate prompt reporting of mining accidents and pollution cases.

She noted that the current reliance on agencies such as the Zambia Environmental Management Authority (ZEMA) and the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) often led to delays, as these institutions must first become aware of incidents before taking action.

Kearns stated that establishing an environmental crimes unit would also enable line ministries to act swiftly on reported violations, ensuring penalties and policy enforcement are carried out effectively.

With increased mining activities in Zambia, cases of environmental pollution are on the rise, particularly reports of contaminated streams and other ecological hazards.

Kearns stressed that a dedicated police unit would help address these concerns more efficiently and protect affected communities.

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