Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE year 2025 was marked by severe challenges for Zimbabwe’s mining sector, with workers suffering widespread labour rights violations, the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Mineral Workers Union (ZDAMWU) has said.
In his end-of-year statement, ZDAMWU general-secretary Justice Chinhema described 2025 as “tumultuous”, saying it was a period defined by profound hardship and resilience among workers who power the country’s mining industry.
Despite their central role in driving national economic growth, Chinhema said mine workers were subjected to systemic exploitation, dangerous working conditions and policies that undermined their dignity.
He said the workers endured inflation-ravaged wages eroded by relentless economic pressures, leaving families unable to afford necessities such as food, healthcare and education.
Over-taxation, the unionist said, further worsened the situation by consuming what little remained of the low salaries, pushing many workers into debt.
“Job insecurity loomed large, because of rampant casualisation of labour where workers are signing short fixed-term contracts, some retrenchments and months-long salary arrears at operations like RioZim, Anjin and other miners,” he said.
Chinhema said unsafe work environments continued to claim lives, citing fatal accidents and injuries linked to inadequate safety equipment, poor ventilation and weak oversight in both small-scale and large-scale mining operations.
“Ventilation challenges caused chronic health issues like silicosis and respiratory diseases,” he said.
Chinhema said occupational safety and health conditions in the mining sector remained dire, with most workers lacking medical insurance, being exposed to toxic chemicals and having no comprehensive occupational health programmes.
He said retired and retiring mine workers, many of whom dedicated decades to the industry, faced victimisation, harassment, poor pension benefits and eviction threats, often without access to decent alternative housing.
“Strikes erupted as workers downed tools in desperation at some mines across the country, highlighting unfair labour practices perpetrated against workers. Despite billions realised in mineral exports, workers reaped poverty, embodying a stark betrayal of their contributions,” Chinhema said.
However, he welcomed the appointment of Polite Kambamura as Mines and Mining Development minister, saying the minister pledged to consult all stakeholders in shaping the sector’s future.
“This pledge offers a glimmer of hope and we earnestly urge the minister to ensure mine workers are not sidelined but given a meaningful chance to be involved,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2026, Chinhema said the union would push for the alignment of collective bargaining agreements with existing labour laws and advocate mechanisms to curb over-taxation.
“Job security will be non-negotiable: ending casualisation, enforcing permanent contracts, and mandating severance protections against arbitrary layoffs,” he said.
Chinhema said the union would also campaign for stronger protection of retired workers through enforced anti-harassment measures and benefit safeguards, while prioritising human rights due diligence across mining operations in line with international standards.
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