BULAWAYO, June 8 (NewsDay Live) — The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) has called for tougher mine safety standards, stronger worker protections and greater industry accountability as the country marked the 54th anniversary of the Kamandama Mine Disaster.
The union said the June 6, 1972 tragedy at the Kamandama Shaft of Hwange Colliery, where a methane gas explosion killed 427 miners underground, remains a stark reminder of the need to prioritise safety in the mining sector.
ZDAMWU general secretary Justice Chinhema described the disaster as the worst mining accident in Zimbabwe’s history and urged stakeholders to honour the victims by preventing similar tragedies.
“The Kamandama Mine Disaster remains the worst mining tragedy in Zimbabwe’s history,” Chinhema said.
“We join families of the victims, mining communities, government and industry stakeholders in remembering the miners who lost their lives while working to support their families. They descended into the earth that morning full of hope, and they never came back.”
The union extended condolences to the families and descendants of the miners and paid tribute to widows and relatives who have carried the burden of the tragedy for decades.
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“We especially acknowledge the widows who have carried this burden for decades with extraordinary strength and dignity, often with very little support,” Chinhema said.
ZDAMWU said the anniversary should serve as a moment of reflection and renewed commitment to workplace safety rather than blame and division.
“Safe mining can only be achieved when all parties — workers, employers, government and communities — work together in a spirit of partnership, trust and mutual accountability,” the union said.
The organisation urged mining companies to strengthen occupational health and safety systems through improved ventilation, adequate personal protective equipment, regular safety training, effective emergency response mechanisms and transparent reporting of workplace incidents.
It also called on government to intensify enforcement of mine safety regulations, conduct regular inspections and protect workers who report unsafe working conditions.
“Workers are the first to know when something is wrong underground. Their voices must be central to every safety conversation,” Chinhema said.
The union further emphasised the need for inclusive safety programmes that cater for women miners, young workers, workers with disabilities and artisanal miners.
ZDAMWU pledged to continue working with government ministries, mining companies, civil society organisations and international partners to improve safety standards across Zimbabwe’s mining sector.
“As we mark this solemn day, ZDAMWU prays that no family in Zimbabwe, Africa or anywhere in the world ever again has to endure the grief of losing a loved one to a preventable mining disaster,” Chinhema said.
“May the Kamandama disaster serve forever as a reminder — and never as a precedent. We honour the fallen by protecting the living.”