Zambians Granted Appeal in Lead Poisoning Case vs. Anglo American

In a significant development, the Johannesburg High Court has granted permission to appeal an earlier ruling that denied class action certification for 140,000 women and children in Kabwe, Zambia, who say a former Anglo American mining operation poisoned them.

The court had previously denied a class action lawsuit, but will now hear an appeal because it's a crucial human rights case and could set a legal precedent in South Africa.

The lawsuit alleges that Anglo American knew about the lead contamination and its dangers as early as the 1970s but failed to take action.  

InFocus

Children playing in Kabwe, Zambia.

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