Tawanda Musarurwa
ZIMBABWE’S workplace injury rate has fallen by more than a third in 10 years and new data from the National Social Security Authority shows how far the new health and safety law can push it lower.
NSSA recorded 4,3 injuries per 1 000 insured workers in 2025. That is down from 6,6 in 2016, a 35 percent drop.
Although the rate edged up from 4,1 in 2024, the decade-long slide has been steady.
Dr Nicola Yon, NSSA’s research and schemes planning manager, labelled the trend “an encouraging indication that workplace safety efforts are yielding results.”
She made the remarks when presenting the findings from the agency’s 2025 Annual Statistical Report on Thursday.
Injury risk varies sharply by NSSA region. Bulawayo’s rate was 10,5 per 1 000, the highest in the country and more than four times Harare’s 2,4.
Mutare followed at 8,2 and Gweru at 7,2. Chinhoyi recorded 5,5 and Masvingo 3,6.
Dr Yon said Bulawayo’s figure may reflect a concentration of higher-risk industries.
She said further analysis is needed to establish the causes.
The wood and wood products industry had the highest rate, at 14,2 per 1 000. That is more than triple the national average and almost nine times the rate in finance and insurance.
The sector includes sawmills, carpentry and furniture makers that use power-driven machinery.
Other manufacturing industries, which include vehicle and rail maintenance and assembly, followed at 12,8.
Fabricated metal products and machinery recorded 11,2, local authorities 9,8 and basic metals 9,7.
At the low end, finance and business services recorded 1,6, commerce 2,5 and building and construction 2,8.
Local authorities stand out because of their size.
Public administration and local authorities employ about a third of NSSA’s active insured workers.
Women in that sector had an injury rate of 8,8, more than triple the 2,7 average for women.
Their rate came close to the 10,2 for men in the same sector.
Women are safer than men in most industries. In food, drink and tobacco processing, the gap nearly closes, at 6,1 for women and 6,6 for men.
Men recorded 4,9 injuries per 1000 workers, against 2,7 for women. Workers 65 and older had the highest rate by age, at 14,6.
Everyday tasks, not exotic hazards, cause most injuries. Lifting and carrying accounted for 26 percent of the 4200 injuries. Hand tools caused 18 percent, and walking or stepping up and down 15 percent.
“Many workplace injuries are preventable through relatively simple interventions,” said Dr Yon.
Production workers made up 29 percent of injuries. Administrative and managerial staff made up 19 percent.
Work-related deaths rose to 79 in 2025 from 57 in 2024, though the figure remains below the 88 recorded in 2020.
Road crashes caused 31 of the deaths, or about 39 percent. November was the deadliest month, with 13 deaths, roughly double the monthly average.
Administrative and managerial workers accounted for 17 deaths, the most of any occupation group. Service workers had 15 and production workers 14.
At NSSA’s rehabilitation centre, mining and quarrying accounted for 22 percent of the 145 admissions.
The sector makes up about 7 percent of the active insured workforce.
NSSA carried out 7677 inspections in 2025, up 13 percent from 6794 the year before, and exceeded its target in every category.
Its mobile clinics delivered 7917 health screenings, mostly chest X-rays paired with medical exams.
The new Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2026 adds tools aimed at the hot spots in the data.
Inspectors can enter workplaces without notice and issue improvement and prohibition notices.
The law lets the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister target the riskiest sectors.
“The Minister may prescribe, from time to time, certain workplaces to have in their employment a safety and health professional,” Section 12(4) states.
The Minister can also restrict work involving hazardous processes or substances.
Workplaces with five or more workers must allow staff to elect safety representatives. Workers are entitled to safety training during paid hours.
Employers must notify NSSA of injuries that keep an employee off work for three days or more.
The law defines “premises” to include vehicles, which brings road transport within employers’ safety duties.
NSSA general manager Dr Charles Shava said such data lets the agency “identify high-risk sectors, occupations and workplace practices that require targeted interventions.”
“Ultimately, better occupational safety outcomes translate into healthier workers, improved productivity, reduced compensation costs and enhanced national economic performance,” he said.
In a speech read on his behalf, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mr Pfungwa Kunaka said analysing injury trends helps authorities “strengthen prevention measures, and foster safer workplaces across the country.”
