Following an analysis in The Times about investing in Anglo American, ACTSA director Rachel reminds potential investors about the class-action filed against it on behalf of 140,000 women and children in Kabwe, Zambia, amongst the world’s most polluted town – and wider pattern of community neglect and impact on health and nature.
John Ficenec’s analysis of Anglo American (“Should you become an Anglophile?”) in today’s edition was an enlightening read. Readers considering this investment might be interested in the legacy of some of the company’s activities, and associated risks.
Kabwe, Zambia, was mined by the Anglo American group for decades, and is now notoriously one of the world’s most polluted towns. It is a UN-designated ‘sacrifice zone’ where an estimated 95% of children have elevated blood lead levels. Anglo American South Africa is currently facing a class-action lawsuit on behalf of approximately 140,000 women and children, and a certification appeal by the claimants took place in November 2025, with the verdict expected any moment now. Should the class-action go ahead it would be one of the largest in Africa’s history
Anglo American’s record in new ventures is not much better. The Quellaveco copper mine in Moquegua, Peru, has diverted the Asana River, with devastating effects on water supplies, air quality and crop yields for local communities that are already very vulnerable to acute water stress.
I trust readers who care about human rights and the environment will welcome information, and encourage them to have a look at ACTSA’s recent publication ‘Anglo American’s Accountability Deficit’ which maps the mining giant’s pattern of behaviour when it comes to riding roughshod over communities. Given the legal case, the potential financial risks of investment are naturally also considerable.
Yours faithfully,
Rachel Palma Randle, Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA)