Avocado Mining Broke a Cease-and-Desist Order, Got Shut Down Twice and Had Its Directors Arrested. ZEMA Just Gave It Another Chance.

KALULUSHI, COPPERBELT PROVINCE. On 4 September 2026, ZEMA convened a second public hearing for Avocado Mining Limited, according to the Agency's own Facebook account. The mine presented a list of new pollution abatement infrastructure, including wet scrubbers, a stack raised from 26 metres to 53 metres, induced-draft fans, a new baghouse and electrostatic precipitator system, repositioned air ducts and an additional reservoir, and the removal of what the company described as a converter-to-scrubber bypass. Following the presentation, Avocado asked to run a controlled trial of the new system while being monitored by residents, ZEMA and other interested parties. The community agreed, on condition that samples be tested by an independent, internationally certified laboratory. Two days later, News Diggers reported that ZEMA had granted the company approval to proceed with the trial run. ## The record ZEMA is granting this trial run against | Date | Event | |---|---| | 31 Oct 2024 | ZEMA cites Avocado Mining for breaches, including operating without an Environmental Impact Assessment and discharging a contaminant without approval | | 8 Nov 2024 | A Ministry of Mines site investigation confirms Avocado is discharging sulphur dioxide fumes in Kalulushi without ZEMA approval | | Nov 2024 | Kalulushi MP Kampamba Mulenga warns Parliament the district is covered in fog-like fumes; Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe announces the mine's suspension | | 4 Nov 2024 | Avocado obtains a High Court stay order suspending ZEMA's directive, and continues operating through most of 2025 pending the case | | 17 Apr 2025 | Avocado discontinues its own court case | | 4 Jun 2025 | ZEMA confirms the mine has ceased operations and begins installing a pollution abatement system | | Sept 2025 | A sulphur dioxide emission described by residents as the worst to date covers Kalulushi | | 14-15 Nov 2025 | ZEMA shuts the mine down again, arrests two directors, confiscates 55 copper blisters, and gives the