
On 3 February 2025, ahead of the mining indaba mining conference kick off in South Africa, ACTSA published in full Anglo American’s reply to our open letter of 31 October 2024 and the response by ACTSA, London Mining Network, and RAID.
Kabwe, in Zambia, was for 49 years the site of one of the world’s most productive lead mines, sitting within the Anglo American group, which at that time was headed by Johannesburg-based Anglo American South Africa (AASA). Decades after, Kabwe is one of the world’s most polluted towns, with widespread lead pollution affecting thousands of children with life-long and irreversible health issues. A class action has been initiated against AASA for harm arising from extensive environmental emissions from the mine and the failure of Anglo American to clean up, despite knowing the damage it was causing and having been advised to do so. The ongoing lead poisoning in Kabwe punctures Anglo American’s claims to be a responsible mining company. It goes against its own stated values, principles, and human rights commitments.
An open letter signed by 25 civil society organisations was handed to its London HQ in 2024 by a representative from Kabwe, asking Anglo American to take action and to stop blocking the community’s quest for justice through the class action. You can access Anglo American’s full reply as a PDF here.
The response by ACTSA, London Mining Network and RAID is below.