Concerns over safety measures in mining sector: 52 years post-Kamandama Mine Disaster

THE Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe (AMWUZ) has raised concern over the disregard of safety precautions mainly by new players in the mining sector ahead of the 52nd-anniversary commemorations of the Kamandama Mine Disaster in Hwange today.

The obtaining situation prompted the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Winston Chitando, to appeal to mining companies to prioritise the safety and welfare of workers.

Minister Chitando, who was addressing delegates that attended the 2024 Chamber of Mines Annual Mining Conference in Victoria Falls recently, stressed the importance of promoting inclusivity and upholding occupational health and safety standards.

He said some mining companies were reluctant to facilitate the establishment of workers committees and unions that look at the welfare of employees, including poor adherence to minimum safety procedures, which he said ought to be strongly enforced.

AMWUZ secretary-general, Mr Gideon Chirwa, said they had received a lot of complaints from employees being forced to work under unsafe conditions.

“As a union, we are not satisfied with the safety standards obtaining at some mines and the major culprits are the new investors. We have received a lot of complaints of employees being forced to work under unsafe conditions and we have engaged the National Employment Council for the mining industry over the issue,” said Mr Chirwa.

He bemoaned failure by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to conduct regular inspections.

“We, however, want to applaud the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Chitando, for making an undertaking during the Chamber of Mines Conference that his ministry will now conduct regular inspections of mines to ensure that safety standards are upheld and labour laws are not flouted,” said Mr Chirwa.

On June 6, 1972, a series of underground explosions occurred at Wankie No.2 Colliery killing 427 miners. The mining disaster referred to as the Kamandama Mine Disaster, remains the deadliest mine accident in the country’s history and the ninth in the world.

Eight men were pulled alive from the mine after the initial explosion at around 10:25AM but two more explosions the following day released poisonous gas into the 4,8km of tunnel rendering further rescue operations impossible.

On June 9, the then Wankie Colliery Company general manager, Mr Gordon Livingstone Blevins, decided against recovering the 424 bodies. Three bodies had been recovered after the first explosion.

A mass memorial service was held on 11 June at a nearby football stadium and about 5 000 people attended.

At the time of the disaster, there were no rescue teams in the country and as such rescue teams came from Zambia, South Africa and Botswana.

The disaster changed the safety and health conditions of the mining industry in the country resulting in the formation of the Mine Rescue Association of Zimbabwe in 1973 whose mandate is to coordinate mine rescue activities.

Since that disaster, Hwange Colliery Company has taken measures to ensure that there is no repeat of a similar accident.

The company has established a fully-fledged Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Department with competent practitioners who drive various proactive accident preventive strategies.

As part of its corporate social responsibility, the company has been taking care of the victims’ widows through monthly groceries and school fees payments.

The Kamandama Mine Disaster commemorations were cancelled last year over what Hwange Colliery Company spokesperson Dr Beauty Mutombe said were circumstances beyond their control. It was the second cancellation in two years after the Covid-19 pandemic affected the 2021 commemorations.

Dr Mutombe had not responded to questions sent to her regarding this year’s preparations by the time of going to print.