JUSTICE FOR KABWE: THE CAMPAIGN
On Wednesday 20 February 2019, a deadly accident occurred on a road near Kolwezi, in the village of Kabwe. A truck carrying sulphuric acid destined for the Mutanda Mining (MUMI) concession which belongs to the Swiss mining company Glencore overturned and hit a large group of passers-by and vendors. The sulphuric acid spilled on the roadway and ran down the side of Kabwe village. 21 people died, 7 were seriously injured, many fields were contaminated, houses were damaged and vendors suffered material damage.
The victims took their case to court. Only the driver of the truck was put on trial. Due to pressure from the companies, the trial didn’t come to a legal end until this day. A public apology from Glencore's subcontractor and legally regulated compensation for those affected never materialized.
The crowdfunding campaign has two objectives: firstly, it supports the lawyers' association CAJJ - Centre d'aide juridico-judiciaire, which is providing free legal representation for the victims of the acid accident in Kabwe. The victims' lawyers are still trying to obtain fair compensation for their clients - making the Kabwe case a symbolic case for dozents, if not hundreds of similar cases.
Secondly, through the NGO Afrewatch (with whom Milo Rau and his team already worked on The Congo Tribunal), the money raised through crowdfunding will directly benefit the victims, who have received little or no compensation to date. For example, Milambo Kayamba, who lost both legs in the accident and is still waiting for suitable prostheses; Charles Mambwe Kasambi former chief of Kabwe, who is tirelessly pursuing justice for his community; or Theophista Kazadi, whose grandchild lost her eyesight: people on whose stories the opera Justice is based.
Art can raise awareness and create metaphorical justice - real justice is just one step away. Let's take this step together.