Kabwe lead contamination
Central Province, Zambia · -14.45°, 28.43° · Mining damage
A former lead mine left a town where children's blood-lead levels are among the highest ever recorded.
Kabwe hosted one of the world's largest lead and zinc mines from 1904 to 1994. Decades of smelting with little pollution control blanketed surrounding neighbourhoods in lead dust, and the slag heap still blows over homes. Health studies have found most children in nearby townships with dangerously elevated blood-lead levels. Clean-up projects have remediated some homes and schools.
In the game
Kabwe lead contamination flares up as Land destroyed. The fix is a gesture: slash through the bulldozers to stop the clearing. Done right, it becomes Damage stopped 🌱. Finish all three steps of its chain in one round for a combo, or take your time in Explore mode: a place you fully restore stays green on your map for good.
🧭 Fly there and restore it▶ Play a 60-second round