Toxic Legacy

HRW Criticizes Zambia’s Handling of Kabwe Lead Crisis

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia  (05-03-2025) – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has strongly criticized the Zambian government for failing to address the long-standing lead contamination crisis in Kabwe, warning that the toxic legacy of mining continues to threaten thousands of lives, particularly children and women.

Speaking at the launch of HRW’s report, Poisonous Profit: Lead Waste Mining and Children's Right to a Healthy Environment in Zambia, Associate Director for Child Rights Juliane Kippenberg highlighted the government’s failure to effectively clean up contamination from the now-defunct Kabwe mine, which closed in 1994.

“Despite repeated warnings, toxic pollution remains a critical public health threat due to inadequate remediation efforts,” Kippenberg stated.

She further condemned the role of several companies—operating from China, South Africa, and Zambia—that are exacerbating the crisis through hazardous artisanal mining in contaminated areas.

“These businesses are not just failing to mitigate pollution—they are actively intensifying the crisis by transporting and processing toxic lead waste without proper environmental oversight,” she said.

HRW also raised concerns over large-scale excavation activities at Kabwe’s Black Mountain, where the removal of lead waste has led to widespread toxic dust exposure, endangering local communities.

The organization accused the government of failing to enforce mining and environmental regulations that could help contain the crisis.

“There are clear violations taking place. Some companies operate without valid licenses, while others, despite being licensed, flout legal provisions such as Article 36 of the Mining Act, which allows authorities to suspend operations where pollution poses a danger to public health,” Kippenberg explained.

HRW called for immediate inspections of companies named in the report, urging authorities to enforce compliance and revoke licenses where necessary.

Beyond regulatory action, the organization stressed the need for a large-scale remediation program to clean up contaminated areas and protect affected communities.

“This is about more than stopping reckless mining activities. The government must implement long-term technical solutions, such as sealing lead waste, expanding medical treatment for poisoned children, and providing alternative livelihoods for artisanal miners,” Kippenberg emphasized.

She warned that without urgent intervention, previous cleanup efforts—including those supported by the World Bank—would be undermined by continued contamination.

Fr. Gabriel Mapulanga welcomed the report, criticizing the authorities for failing to act on a presidential directive issued three years ago to address lead poisoning. He described the government's slow response as a governance failure.

“The findings are timely and significant. The report confirms that, despite clear warnings, the government has yet to form a crisis management committee as recommended.

This inaction raises serious concerns about leadership, though we remain hopeful corrective steps will be taken soon,” Fr. Mapulanga stated.

Kabilika Eugene, another speaker at the event, echoed HRW’s concerns, particularly regarding the uncontrolled depletion of the Black Mountain.

He warned that lead-contaminated materials are being transported to other areas, spreading environmental and health risks.

“The problem is no longer confined to the Black Mountain. Lead pollution is spreading throughout the town, making future cleanup efforts even more challenging and costly,” Eugene said.

He called for immediate containment measures, including restricting access to affected areas and halting further transportation of hazardous materials.

He also emphasized the need for a coordinated response involving government agencies and civil society groups.

“There was an opportunity to address this problem much earlier—particularly after the previous mine owners left and during the World Bank-funded cleanup program.

However, it's still possible to act now. Effective solutions exist, but they require commitment and urgency,” Eugene stressed.

HRW warned that the Kabwe crisis should serve as a lesson for Zambia’s future mining projects, emphasizing the need for stricter environmental safeguards from the outset.

“With new mining developments planned across the country, the government must ensure that environmental protections are strictly enforced. If mismanaged, mine closures can leave devastating legacies, as seen in Kabwe,” Kippenberg said.

She pointed to successful mine rehabilitation projects in countries like the United States as examples Zambia could follow, stressing that technical expertise exists to implement similar solutions.

HRW urged the government to take decisive action, including enforcing environmental laws, halting dangerous mining activities, and launching an extensive cleanup operation.

The organization warned that failure to act would perpetuate the suffering of affected communities and expose future generations to irreversible health damage.

Government officials have yet to issue a response to the allegations.