- An event next week in the House of Lords will examine the toxic legacy of Anglo American in Kabwe, Zambia, where hundreds of thousands continue to be harmed by lead pollution left behind from historic mining operations.
- The panel will include Barry Mulimba, resident of Kabwe and a community leader, who is visiting the UK and can explain from first-hand experience the “devastation” this has caused.
- Regional, health and legal experts will discuss the tremendous public health impacts and implications arising from the environmental lead contamination, particularly on children and during pregnancy.
- Attendees will be invited to add their name to an open letter, already signed by a range of national and international organisations, calling on Anglo American to address these harms.
- This event follows International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week from 20-26 October 2024.
London – Next week, on Tuesday 29 October, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) and Lord Peter Hain will host an event in the House of Lords, in which a panel of regional, health, and legal experts will discuss the impacts of lead pollution in Kabwe, one of the world’s most toxic towns, where Anglo American operated one of the world’s most productive lead mines for almost 50 years.
A class action suit has been 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 operations (more information on the court case in the notes).
The panel will include discussion about the serious health impacts and implications of lead poisoning, especially on children, Anglo American’s role in contributing to the lead contamination in Kabwe, what everyday life is like in one of the world’s most polluted towns, and the legal case itself –including Anglo’s defence of acting within the ‘standards of the time’. The discussions will also cover the gap between the lack of accountability and responsibility being taken by Anglo American and the commitments it has made to international human rights guidelines on remediation for adverse impacts on human rights and the environment.
Attendees including MPs, Peers, analysts, investors and civil society organisations will be given the opportunity to sign an open letter addressed to Anglo American CEO Duncan Wanblad, calling for Anglo to take immediate action to address this historic wrongdoing. The open letter has already been signed by a number of national and international charities and organisations working on human rights, children’s rights, health and corporate accountability, and will be issued to Duncan Wanblad and released after the event.
