It's one thing to watch documentaries about happenings in other parts of the world, but when it's a town in your country, where you have friends and family living - it hits different 😔

Being born and raised in Kabwe, I can attest to the fact that this issue of lead exposure has been an ongoing crisis and majority of the everyday people are not even aware of the contamination through the air they breathe or the water they drink and the devastating effects lead poisoning has on them and their children. Almost 30 years since the closure of the mine little or no effort has been made to remedy this huge problem.The deliberate cover up of the extent of lead poisoning, the lack of proper health care to tackle this issue and inaction and incapability by the people responsible for this, is just utterly wrong and immoral. Thank you VICE for bringing awareness to this issue because URGENT measures need to be put in place by the government and other supporting organizations to mitigate these effects.

It blows my mind how Africa is so rich in natural resources but yet the ordinary people there NEVER benefit from this, in fact they always seem to pay the highest price (their health, their children’s health, poverty, etc..) for rich people to become more rich while they suffer. It’s very pronounced in Africa and many people there have suffered for a huge amount of time so others can have yet more money. This is actually happening all over the world to all us ordinary people no matter how good one thinks they have it. Obviously many people have it better if not living in super toxic environment or poverty or not having the diseases but w that said all the world governments are poisoning all of the people on purpose and doing straight up psychopathic things to the everyday ordinary people all so they can have more money and more power. It makes my blood boil and my heart break, especially when I see people suffering like this and it’s always the same thing no matter where, what or who……everyday people suffering, often in cruel and unspeakable ways, so that the mega rich and powerful and elite can have yet more. I hope I live to see the day that they pay for what they’ve done and us the people take back what has always been ours to begin with. Anyways I wish everyone the highest love and blessings….

Ahh, so this is what happens when you let corporations work without regulations.

As a Zambian ,i feel bad. Am surprised how this issue is not even talked about in the main stream media in the country. Government needs to be petitioned by all well meaning citizens to thoroughly clean up the town.

I'm a Zambian 🇿🇲 and this really breaks my heart to watch and see my people 💔😢 suffer

can you do a video on how Africa is so rich in natural resources but yet the ordinary people there NEVER benefit from this?

Ive been to so many African Countries. From all of those Countries my heart will always be with Zambian people. Friendly and humble. Always smiling . I love Zambia, and this breaks my heart

The mining companies should be held responsible and liable. That's when these types of things will stop. It's the same story over and over. Some company comes in, exploits resources, harms the area and people. They leave with the profit, destroying the place and land. If these companies start to be legally and financially responsible, I think this will make a big difference.

Thank you VICE for bringing awareness to this issue people have to know about this in Zambia.

That's awkward! I actually live in this town!!!

Vice News is my favorite news source. Thank you to everyone one involved in producing these informative videos, especially the reporters out in field.

Great report by vice to create awareness to this health crisis. Kudos to chika for taking the risk to go to the most toxic city in Africa. May the WHO and other Health care industries fight to save this city. Let their plight move humanity to rescue missions.

I find it so interssting as a Kenyan i can understand some of what is being spoken

A brilliant report, however depressing the content is. Kudos, Chika. All the best wishes from the (healthier) mountains of Aburi. We hope to see you back soon. Cheers.

If you want to do something to help address lead pollution and childhood lead poisoning, consider supporting the international non-profit organization Pure Earth, which focuses specifically on reducing lead poisoning in low- and middle-income countries and has completed dozens of lead pollution prevention and remediation projects, including the remediation of residential yards across Kabwe.

Unbelievable..Government must take responsibility and remedy and further risk to the citizens. Innocent lives being lost and being called the most toxic city in Africa sends chills down my spine. This lead exposure has been an ongoing crisis of community contamination is utterly wrong and concrete measures must be put into place by government URGENTLY

I’m just back from a charity trip in Kabwe, truly so sad to see how this issue has impacted young kids. It’s disgusting that they haven’t been compensated for.

The guy saying they work the whole day with only breakfast... what a tough life .. 😕😕 an empty stomach hurt so bad..

What I find entirely sad is the fact that their own government is insincere and of zero help. That's the very very sad part 💔

Good job reporting. I love your fact based news.

I'm from zambia and it's so sad to see kabwe has become the most polluted town in my country 😢

Excellent work, Chika!!!

They can blame each other as much as they want...profit above people!...disgusting 🙁.

Good report but the 5 separate ads that played throughout it were over the top it was 13min video with 5 ad breaks, enough.

Greed leads to things like this. It doesn’t happen overnight

I live in Romania, city Baia Mare.it's the same situation with lead poisoning

When you have a company called angalo Saxon in Africa its never good

0:20. Wow I'm Kenyan and understood every word that was said. I'd really blend in Zambian society

Everything's so grotesque, in the smelter shot they even show the same model truck as in the clip from the 60s, while people go through ancient ruble for scraps of a long-gone business.

someone needs to pay for this with money and blood

I watched the read many comments about the video it's sad. 1 those who are aware of this situation should raise awareness to others in the area come together and pressure the government to do something about it. Because it's clear they don't care what you people are going through.

Thankyou for showing me

I lived in the Town for 3 years during the 1960's. Do I have a case against these company's? Dad was paid well working in the mine complex. Does your body get rid of the lead after many years?

I love the theme of VICE news, but they really need to find better hosts.

Monitoring of lead levels are pointless if nothing is done.

Governments should fight for the interests of the people.

Thank God I grew up in lusaka

How about that trip at 2:03, that was a good move,that girl in the back ground has potential.

Holy $#!T lead poisoning!

These comments are just as toxic as that waste. Jesus. Also a reminder that there are places toxic in America (i.e. Flint, Michigan), so stop acting like the 💩 here don't stank and black Americans should be happy we're not in this position. This video isn't a jerry Springer episode meant for you to watch and relish in schadenfreude and the fact that your life isn't as bad. It's meant to educate you and help you sympathize with someone else who is suffering. If you can't see them as humans with just as much value and fear, then you shouldn't be watching.

*9:24* I imagine it and it hurts.

Mining is killing Africa 😭😭😭

If you see a desert = mining. Every desert was caused by excessive mining.

I wanna see what the kid was drawing, personally.

Mr Gideon Ndalama (Check around 9:57) is an Intellectual. The reporter says , "According to the Western media, Kabwe is the most polluted city in the entire world" He replies "Well I am not privy to the parameters that where used to do the ranking because If you are talking about Chernobyl vs lead poisoning in Kabwe; how do you put radiation pollution and lead pollution in the same checklist" 🤣😂 lol i almost choked on my beverage when i heard that😅

VERY GOOD VIDEO. 👍❤❤❤❤❤

such a shame

why is too dark

It's sad we hear nothing about african, south asian , and middle eastern atrocities and problems.

it's crazy that this is 20x worse than in michigan yet the michigan thing was all over the news in alot of countries ... americans man y'all not the center of the world rather the joke of it

Those poor people 😢

My country 🇿🇲🥺

“How do you out radiation poisoning and lead poisoning on the same checklist?” yeah, got quiet real fast huh

100 yr old problem. ANGLO-AMERICAN MINES is just as guilty as the Zambian government.

Where in Africa?

What dialect is this that is similar to my luganda,,,am getting almost 70% of that local language

The British in case should take accountability for this danger they caused to this miserable people while they made tons of money without any significant costs.

It’s hard outchea in wakanda

Almost every documentary about bad stuff in the world basically starts with „the british …“.

this was enlightening to say the least. i did not know, that Chernobyl is in Africa for once.

Zambia is my favorite African country

Looks like a better place to be than San Francisco

Vice News just keeps leading the way. Great (new) journalism!

And my ex called herself toxic 🙄

Zim 🇿🇼 🇿🇼 🇿🇲 🇿🇲 zam God bless 🙌 🙏 two countries Amen

Black Mountain is in Kitwe, not Kabwe..

England why am I not surprised

africa is such a rich beautiful continent that was taken but rotten greedy leaders

I jst heard the bemba 😅🤣nabwela naziba no ziba

Again. If you watch this video and your main takeaway is that you’re grateful for the things that you have, you are a sick person.

Her locs are giving me LIFE!

Thank God we know better today * being sarcastic * Now we doing everything all over again, but with lithium.

Bally Will Fix it✊🏿

Meh. You think this is bad you should see my bedroom floor.

What a disgusting people we are

In the world 🌎🤦🏿‍♂️ NO.

Sometimes it better not to have some natural resources. Imagine the environmental and health impact then all profit goes to few pockets...

Lack of education, famine, colonial repercussions, foreign interest, and corrupt governments are what’s keeping Africa back. We have a long way to go, but I hope our people realize the power we have if we instill it back into ourselves. One love ❤

Detroit?

Paris?

We're you find the richest is were you will find the poorest!!

It's everyone's fault but theirs

I don't live there nor do I know anyone living there but this is worrying🥲

This is what real toxicity looks like

Omg I can't stand the toxic mentality

Those companies who were mining are the same exact ones who should be held personally and financially responsible for any poisoning’s of those people!!…. 🤦🏻‍♂️ If they don’t wanna pay then shut em TF down!! 🤷🏻‍♂️🙏🏼

You should make one for the kost toxic city in Europe - Skopje and guess what, it's toxic in many ways, but we still love our city. Hahaha ✌️

I 🙏🏽 Pray for Cancer For all my African Brothers and Sisters… Amen…✝️📿🤲

Please get CHEMET and benadryl

2:48 all messed up stories start with "when the British..." :)

Algo fam plus mycorestoration- let's get to work.

Looking at this makes me appreciate what we have. We complain about a lot of stupid things in a first world society.

pobrecitos!!!! ##JustSaiyan##

Glencore ,Glencore toujours Glencore ils sont partout...

One way to control pollution with your industries running besides is to grow more trees🌳 as trees absorb carbon dioxide nd carbon separately enough to control your pollution !

Nice

LEAD ☠ ⚰

9:27 amogus

The vibes are way off in this city