Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday urged the Zambian government to act punitively against mining firms that are violating domestic environmental law and worsening lead pollution. HRW detailed the impact of the firm Jubilee Metals Group on Kabwe, one of the ten most polluted sites globally.
HRW asserted that Article 36 of the Mines and Minerals Act states “uncontrollable pollutions” as grounds to “suspend or curtail production or close the mine or a section of the mine.” Furthermore, the Environmental Management Act of Zambia states that everyone has a right to a clean, safe, and healthy environment. The legislation also mandates that businesses submit environmental impact assessments to the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) and only continue mining after receiving approval.
A scientific report analyzing the exposure of the Zambian population to high levels of lead found that the mean blood lead level (BLL) for residents of Kabwe was 11.9 μg/dL, which is 2.4 times the standard reference. Previously, 95 percent of Zambian children living near the former mine were found to have increased BLLs, with half of the children needing urgent medical attention. This most likely derives from the fact that many children as young as seven take part in “scavenging” in order to support their family income. This takes place near lead-exposed areas of the town, and mothers without childcare take even younger children to scavenge.
In March, HRW released a similar report condemning Jubilee Metals Group and other companies for profiting off the wide-scale trading of lead. Similarly, Amnesty International reported the pursuit of a lawsuit from women and children of Zambia against some of the businesses involved in lead poisoning.
A class action appeal was successful for the people of Kabwe in the Johannesburg High Court in April 2024. Nevertheless, whilst the government delays any executive response to suspend or restrict Jubilee Metals Group mining, the hazardous exposure to lead waste remains at large.
Kabwe, the main town located in central Zambia, holds a lead and zinc mine established by British colonialists in the 1990s. The mine, however, was never properly closed. The Zambian government then decided to issue mining licences to companies such as EPL (the subsidiary company of Jubilee Metals Group), Union Star Industry, and various other companies to carry out led removal of the site. This process has caused a large degree of lead pollution, directly affecting the health of the local population. The mine area is known as “Black Mountain.”