The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) has formally tabled a US$650 minimum wage for mine workers, signaling a decisive push for better pay in 2026.
The demand comes amid soaring global mineral prices, particularly for gold, which have boosted mining company revenues. Yet workers say they are not seeing these gains reflected in their pay, leaving households struggling to cover basic living costs such as rent, school fees, and groceries. The union argues that rising industry profits must translate into fair wages for those driving the sector’s success.
The National Council of ZDAMWU met in Bulawayo last week—the union’s highest decision-making body between congresses—and resolved that this year must mark a turning point in the fight for fair compensation. The new demand represents a sharp increase from current earnings, which range between US$390 and US$400.
“Mining is performing well. Gold is performing well. Platinum and chrome are doing well, but that performance is not reaching the pockets of workers,” said ZDAMWU general secretary Justice Chinhema.
Zimbabwe’s mining sector, home to major gold producers and exporters, has indeed benefited from favourable international prices. But rising production and export earnings have done little to lift stagnant wages, leaving workers struggling to make ends meet. Disposable income is often virtually nonexistent, leaving families vulnerable to debt and financial distress.
The union accuses employers, represented by the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, of prioritising profit over fair pay.
Keep Reading
- Hebrew Scriptures: The best way to stop suicide
- Mpofu plots DeMbare downfall
- Bosso bullish ahead of BF blockbuster
- Innscor volumes rise
“They believe in super profits,” Chinhema noted. “They do not believe in sharing.”
Employers, in turn, argue for wage restraint, citing currency stability and inflation management as critical for long-term investment. Workers, however, counter that stability is meaningless if take-home pay cannot sustain basic survival.
“Stability of the local currency must not come at the expense of workers’ livelihoods. An income must be able to put food on the table,” Chinhema said, adding that some employers are urging workers to take up funeral policies instead of addressing low wages—a move the union calls misplaced and insensitive.
“You cannot push workers to prepare for death when they are struggling to live.”
Beyond immediate survival, ZDAMWU stresses that wages should allow workers to invest in skills development and remain competitive as mining technology evolves. Current pay levels, Chinhema said, make professional growth nearly impossible.
As Zimbabwe’s mining industry continues to thrive internationally, the central question looms: if mineral exports are generating record returns, why are mine workers still barely earning enough to live?
For ZDAMWU’s National Council, the answer is clear: it comes down to bargaining power. And for 2026, they have made it unmistakably clear—the fight for US$650 has begun.