It has been reported that a preliminary report by South Africa-based environmental company Drizit has found that the Chinese-owned Sino-Metals Leach Zambia copper mine has covered up the extent of a disastrous toxic spill that happened near the northern city of Kitwe, which polluted a major river in the area.

According to the reports, the environmental cleanup company, which was contracted by Sino-Metals Leach Zambia to investigate the accident, says its two-month investigation found that the disaster resulted in the release of 1.5 million tons of toxic material, at least 30 times more than Sino-Metals admitted at the time. 

Thami Ngubeni spoke to Channel Africa's Correspondent in Zambia, Arthur Sikopo Davies.