Calls to improve safety, health in mining sector

Dosman Mangisi Business Correspondent
THE government has called for improved mining safety and health standards amid concerns over fatal incidents and spread of diseases in the sector. It has emerged that scores of mine workers, mainly in the small scale sub-sector, are subjected to poor health and safety working conditions with some fatalities going unreported.

The Ministries of Mines and Mining Development and Health and Child Care say poor working conditions due to lack of proper mining equipment and protective clothing lead to uncontrolled exposure to harmful chemicals such as mercury, cyanide and sulphuric acid. Prolonged spousal separation and unprotected sex are also some of the factors that fuel the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and eventual loss of life.

Minister Mines Walter Chidhakwa expressed his distress over the issue in Zvishavane recently where a Mimosa Platinum Mine employee was crushed to death by a rock while at work. “I urged all our mines whether big or small to look after the safety of our people who are the miners. I get troubled to hear the death of a miner because life is precious, it needs protection.

“Mimosa has lost its employee. That’s a big loss in the area of human resources,” said the minister. He stressed the need to educate artisanal and small scale mining sector on occupational health and safety and urged management to enforce certain standards of safety.

Minister Chidhakwa challenged big mining firms to create work related learning programmes to assist small scale miners with occupational health and safety standards. He blasted “drunkenness” by some small scale miners, which he said leads to ignorance of safety precautions.

“Don’t allow drunkenness during working hours. We must all know that somebody up there gave us a life. We’ve families and we’re the bread winners,” said Minister Chidhakwa. Estimates indicate about three mining accidents take place in the artisanal and small scale miners per day.

Health Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa is on record saying TB and HIV infections in the small scale mining sector were worrisome. “Artisanal and small scale miners are a key population to address TB/HIV in the mines. This group of miners works under poor conditions and we must come up with resolutions to coordinate and curb the spread of diseases in the sector,” he said.

“We can’t expect miners to bring money while we don’t consider their health. As southern region today we blame Wenela in South Africa which has left a big dent of TB in the region.” Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), an umbrella body representing small scale miners has been tasked to monitor and promote safety among its members.

More than 40,000 small scale miners are registered under the ZMF with hundreds working as syndicates. Over 300,000 artisanal miners are yet to be formalised and mapped. It is believed the sector supports more than two million dependents.