"The claimants – principally young children – are suffering from alarming levels of lead poisoning which, depending on various factors including the blood lead level, causes a range of significant conditions, from psychological, intellectual and behavioural damage to serious and permanent physical damage to their bodily organs, neurological systems and fertility.

"In pregnant women, lead they ingested as children is absorbed into their bones and released during pregnancy.

Women are also exposed to lead during pregnancy from the surrounding environment

Not only can the baby’s health be damaged, lead causes pregnant women to have a higher risk of pre-eclampsia; gestational hypertension and miscarriage."

The application seeks compensation as well as blood screening for children and pregnant women in Kabwe