“We demand that Anglo American properly address the environmental devastation they’ve left behind. If this is not done, future generations will be condemned to live with the ongoing crisis of lead poisoning in Kabwe.”
– Barry Mulimba, community leader in Kabwe, Zambia
The campaign to hold Anglo American South Africa accountable for the lead pollution in Kabwe, Zambia, continued this fall in London with a series of actions co-ordinated by LMN member Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) UK.
Kabwe, a town in northern Zambia, and its surrounding area is one of the most lead-polluted places in the world, according to pollution experts. Its residents have been seeking remedy and clean-up for decades, as generations of pregnant women and children continue to suffer from the harmful effects of lead poisoning in the environment. Between 1925 and 1974, the town was the site of a large lead mine operated by Anglo American.
In 2020, a class action suit was filed in South Africa against Anglo American South Africa on behalf of around 140,000 women and children in Kabwe who are alleging harm from lead poisoning caused by Anglo American’s historic mining operation. Lead poisoning continues and the levels found in children’s blood today are up to 28 times higher than that recommended by the WHO for public health actions.
On 29 October 2024, ACTSA UK with Lord Peter Hain hosted an event at the House of Lords at which, Barry Mulimba, community leader in Kabwe, described the impact of lead poisoning on his community, alongside a paediatrician specialising in environmental health and a partner from Leigh Day (who are collaborating with South African attorneys Mbuyisa Moleele Attorneys on the case), and reiterated the call for redress.
During the visit of Barry Mulimba to the UK, an open letter was handed in at the HQ of Anglo American at London seeking long-delayed justice for the community. The letter was signed by a range of civil society organisations, including LMN.
On 31 October, LMN’s co-chair Andy Whitmore participated at the public event hosted by ACTSA UK, alongside Barry Mulimba, Zainab Rahim from Rights and Accountability in Development – RAID, and Hamza Hamouchene, an author currently working with Transnational Institute. You can watch the recording of the panel here: “Lead pollution in Kabwe, Zambia – environmental racism and holding polluters accountable.”
Last week, to align with the opening of the London mining conference Resourcing Tomorrow, we sent a joint call to the investors of Anglo American to consider significant legal and reputational risks that are associated with the Kabwe mine case. The letter highlights that “it is hard to find, in either Anglo American’s legal arguments or its response to our open letter any sign of the “responsibility to the people and environment it operates in” that it claims to be bound by.”
Along with other civil society organisations including – RAID, Corporate Justice Coalition and ACTSA – we stand with the Kabwe community as they continue to seek urgent medical assistance and clean-up of the devastating toxic lead legacy.
News coverage:
Mining Magazine “Campaigners call for Anglo American to redress lead mine’s ‘toxic legacy‘
Mining Business Africa “Event hosted in UK House of Lords calls upon Anglo American to answer for its toxic legacy in Kabwe – unveils open letter to Anglo American from civil society and parliamentarians”
The Africa Report, “Anglo American face UK House of Lords campaign by Kabwe, Zambia”
African Mining Market, “Event Hosted in UK calls Anglo American to answer for its toxic legacy in Kabwe”