2,500 Zambian Villagers to be Compensated by British Mining Company
Time to Pay for Damage Done
Over 2,500 villagers in Zambia are to be financially compensated by a British mining company for significant water pollution to the region’s waterways.
”Vedanta broke the law in Zambia and Zambians are the victims says Richard Musukwa Mining Minister of Zambia @MiningIndaba200 @Mining_Online #Zambia @Vedanta- Leon Louw” Twitter
In a joint statement issued late last month, the villagers, represented by Leigh Day solicitors, and Vedanta Resources Ltd said:
“Without admission of liability, Vedanta Resources Limited and Konkola Copper Mines Plc confirm that they have agreed, for the benefit of local communities, the settlement of all claims brought against them by Zambian claimants represented by English law firm Leigh Day.”
The claim was brought by the thousands of locals — including 642 children, against Konkola Copper Mines Plc and its parent company, UK-based Vedanta Resources.
Severe Water Pollution
Issued in 2015, the claim centred on pollution caused by the Nchanga Copper Mine. A mine that employs 16,000 people in Zambia — the country’s biggest private employer, and sold a controlling share of its company in 2004 to Vedanta which is one of the largest mining companies in the world.
Oh my my! 200 farmers died during #FarmersProtest. Suicide, hypothermia, 1 shot by police, detained, 75 days. Your @narendramodi hasn’t spoken with farmers till date and is selling tea conspiracy in Assam? You tweeted this memory for keeping you safe from cases against Vedànta?
Anil Agarwal@AnilAgarwal_VedOur PM Shri @narendramodi has greatest priority for the farmers and is always thinking about how he can help them. I remember an incident during the locust attack last year.
Moni@Taltos2020Zambia, Vedanta dumped hazardous waste into Kafue River, from its copper mine, acc to lawsuit filed by 2000 residents, resulting in widespread human illness & death of fish.
Judge: “This was lack of corporate responsibility, criminal, & a tipping point for corporate recklessness”
The plaintiffs alleged that the pollution severely impacted the lives and the livelihoods of people living in nearby villages Shimulala, Kakosa, Hippo Pool and Hellen — where the primary source of income is farming and fishing.
It was also claimed that toxic effluent discharge from the mine damaged local land and waterways used for irrigation. As a result, the use of polluted water for drinking, washing and bathing caused severe health problems in residents.
The villagers sought damages, remediation and cessation to the alleged continual pollution that they say is gravely impacting the quality of their lives.
Accountability and Liability
In a landmark ruling, Supreme Court judges ruled in April 2019 that the case could be brought against Vedanta in the English courts because — as the parent company of Konkola, the company arguably owed the villagers a duty of care.
Vedanta had published material asserting its responsibility for the establishment of group-wide environmental control and sustainability standards, and therefore it was decided that the company must be held accountable for such statements.
European Coalition for Corporate Justice@ECCJcorpjustUK Supreme Court finds #Vedanta can be sued in the UK for human rights abuses committed in Zambia! Yet another indication for the need for EU binding rules to compel firms take action to prevent human rights and environmental abuses!
The Supreme Court agreed with arguments advanced by the plaintiffs that there was a real risk they would not be able to achieve justice in the Zambian courts due to lack of funding and legal expertise available.
It appears that more and more giant international companies are gradually beginning to be held liable for abusive operations in local African communities.
