- Zimbabwe mine union calls for US$650 minimum wage.
- ZDAMWU says safety in mines is a basic right.
- New collective agreement under SI 71 of 2026 strengthens worker protections.
THE ZIMBABWE Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) has renewed calls for better pay and safer working conditions in the mining sector.
General Secretary Justice Chinhema told workers on May Day that the union is pressing for a minimum wage of US$650. “A worker who cannot afford basic needs is a worker whose dignity has been compromised,” he said.
Chinhema said safety in mines must be treated as a right, not an option. “Safety in our mines is not a luxury, it is a fundamental right of every worker,” he added.
The union urged companies to provide protective equipment, carry out regular inspections, and train workers to prevent accidents and disease. “Investing in safety is investing in productivity,” Chinhema said.
ZDAMWU highlighted the gazetting of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement under Statutory Instrument 71 of 2026. The agreement replaces a 1990 framework and introduces stronger protections for mine workers.
Chinhema encouraged workers to join the union, saying unity is key to achieving fair wages and safe workplaces. “When you join ZDAMWU, you are not just joining a union, you are joining a family,” he said.
The union said it will continue to defend workers’ rights and push for enforcement of the new standards. “ZDAMWU is not just talking; we are acting,” Chinhema declared.
