Zambia mining glitter steals shine from lead poisoning fears
The Chibuluma copper mine in the Zambian copperbelt region. The government has designated zinc and lead in Kabwe as "critical minerals" needed for the global energy transition.
The Zambian government may be exposing thousands of residents in one of the country’s major cities to lead poisoning by failing to control foreign and local miners, a new report warned this week.
Miners have been scrambling for some of the world’s most sought-after metals in Zambia.
But New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a 67-page report released this week that issuance of mining and processing licences for South African, Chinese and local companies that are harvesting toxic lead waste in the city of Kabwe has not compelled them to act on safety over lead.
The Zambian government has designated zinc and lead in Kabwe as “critical minerals” needed for the global energy transition.
Globally, zinc and lead are highly sought-after metals, including for the world’s urgently needed fossil fuel phase-out and transition to renewable energy.
Kabwe, the capital of Zambia’s Central Province, is one of the most lead-polluted places in the world because of contamination from a former industrial lead and zinc mine as well as a smelter.
Lead is a heavy metal that is highly toxic to humans when ingested or inhaled, particularly to children and pregnant women.
The mine in Kabwe, which was established during the colonial era and officially closed in 1994 leaving an estimated 6.4 million tonnes of uncovered lead waste dumps, has never been cleaned-up.
Health experts say the lead has contaminated residential areas, exposing up to 200 000 people to poisoning. Five years ago, lawyers filed a class action against the mining company Anglo American for its alleged role in the Kabwe mine from 1925 to 1974.
They were seeking compensation, a lead-screening system for affected children and women, and a clean-up of the area, but the courts dismissed the case.
HRW in its report, Poisonous Profit: Lead Waste Mining and Children’s Right to a Healthy Environment in Kabwe, Zambia; said the government was still facilitating hazardous mining and processing of toxic lead waste, adding to the harm faced by Kabwe residents.
President Hakainde Hichilema had in 2022 and 2024 announced the creation of a government committee to address the contamination, but little has happened on the ground up to now.
“The Zambian government should suspend operations and revoke licenses of companies involved in the hazardous mining, removal, and processing of lead-bearing waste in Kabwe,” HRW said.
“It should conduct a comprehensive programme to provide a remedy for the former lead mine and its waste in close consultation with affected communities, civil society, and experts.
Zambia’s Green Economy and Environment minister Mike Mposha said his government was aware of the pollution crisis in Kabwe and had come up with strategies to remedy the situation.
Green initiatives
“The government through the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment has already expressed intent to resolve the lead exposure in Kabwe through the implementation of green development initiatives and investments,” Mr Mposha said in a letter to HRW.
“We reiterate our commitment to our expressed interest to transform Kabwe into a green development area.”
HRW said the Zambian government should seek technical and financial support from donor agencies and companies responsible for the pollution.
It said researchers had found out that 95 percent of children living near the former mine in Kabwe had elevated blood lead levels and about half of them urgently needed medical treatment.
Lead poisoning can impair cognitive development, resulting in problems with concentration, memory and learning.
During pregnancy, lead exposure can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, as well as premature birth and low birth weight in newborns, which can have lifelong health implications.
Lead, which can be stored in bones, can also be mobilised and transferred to a newborn through breastfeeding, especially if the parent has poor nutrition.
“The Zambian government should be protecting people from highly hazardous activities, not enabling them,” said Juliane Kippenberg, associate rights director at HRW.
“Companies are profiting in Kabwe from mining, removing, and processing lead waste at the expense of children’s health.”
“The Zambian government should prioritise children’s health over mining profit.
“Only comprehensive remediation of the mine waste can protect children and future generations in Kabwe from toxic lead.”
HRW recommended the development and implementation of a comprehensive clean-up programme for the former lead mine and its waste in Kabwe in consultation with the affected community, civil society and experts.
“The technical solution for remediation should be based on consultation with Zambian and international experts, including engineers who led the remediation of a similar lead and zinc mine and smelter in the United States, to assess the best option for Kabwe residents,” the report added.
“A technical remediation proposal should also estimate the cost of remediation. Comprehensive remediation is complex and expensive.
“Yet, the cost of inaction is much higher- for the rights and health of people in Kabwe, as well as for its economy.”
HRW said the Zambian government should seek technical and financial support for the corrective measures from companies responsible for the pollution, donor agencies and governments.
