The US embassy raised significant alarm, advising personnel to leave due to potential health threats from "widespread contamination" after identifying hazardous substances in the area. However, Zambian government spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa refuted these claims, stating that testing had confirmed that pH levels in water had normalized and affirmed the water's safety for consumption. He criticized the embassy's actions as unnecessary panic.

The Sino-Metals Leach Zambia mine, part of a state-owned Chinese enterprise, has been at the center of environmental discussions due to its management of hazardous waste. Despite the government's claims of restored safety and proactive measures post-spill, opposition voices, such as Green Party leader Peter Sinkamba, accused the US of selective concern based on geopolitical interests, questioning the timing of the health alert and contrasting it with its silence over historical lead contamination linked to foreign mining companies.

Environmental advocacy groups, like the Centre for Environment Justice, have called for urgent and substantial action from the government to address what they deem a national disaster, emphasizing the need to protect citizens' rights and environmental integrity.

As debates continue, the situation highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding environmental management, international relations, and public health in Zambia's mining sector.