Amnesty International and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) stepped up on Monday to support Zambian residents in their appeal against British mining giant Anglo American at South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal. The case alleges severe lead poisoning caused by the company’s operations in Kabwe, Zambia, challenging the multinational's accountability beyond its home nation's borders.

The appeal focuses on the historic operations at Kabwe's "Broken Hill" mine, where Anglo American conducted lead mining from 1925 to 1974. Residents claim that the mining practices led to "massive" soil contamination and widespread health issues across generations. The core of the appellants' argument is the need for multinational corporations to uphold human rights standards universally, not just where they are headquartered.

Amnesty International and SALC argue that the South African judiciary has a duty to integrate international law into its decisions, especially concerning corporate responsibility and the provision of effective remedies for victims of human rights abuses by multinational corporations. This appeal follows a previous ruling by a lower court in Johannesburg, which rejected the class action in 2023 due to purported insufficient evidence linking the petitioners’ health issues directly to the mining activities.

The lower court described the class action as "unmanageable," citing the challenge of proving individual lead poisoning cases among the estimated 140,000 plaintiffs. This decision has now moved to the Supreme Court of Appeal, where the implications of the ruling could set a precedent for corporate accountability and human rights enforcement across borders.

Dr. Atilla Kisla of SALC highlighted the global significance of the case, stating, "This case is about more than one class action or one community in Zambia. It is about whether South African corporations can operate abroad without being held to the same human-rights standards we demand at home."

As the Supreme Court of Appeal deliberates on whether to certify the class action, the international community watches closely. The outcome could influence how corporations engage in foreign investments and operations, potentially leading to stricter adherence to human rights norms globally.