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Minister Chidhakwa

Herald Reporter
A Cabinet Minister has revealed that 98 people were killed in work related incidents last year, while 5 491 were injured compared to 76 fatalities and 5 666 injuries in 2013.Addressing engineers at a workshop in Harare recently, Acting Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Cde Walter Chidhakwa said the Government was gravely concerned about workers’ safety.

“The Ministry is gravely concerned about employers and workers who continue to ignore the life supporting minimum safety and health standards set by Government through legislation,” he said.

This, he said, resulted in workplace accidents, injuries, illnesses and fatalities. The statistics were compiled by the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) which captures occupational safety and health records in the country.

Zimbabwe has recorded 24 866 work-related accidents which resulted in the death of 446 people over the past five years.

“We all agree these injuries and fatalities were and still are a burden to families and society as a whole, yet they were all preventable,” Acting Minister Chidhakwa said.

“The troubling question is why the occupational safety and health situation does not significantly improve even when professionals of a high calibre like engineers are involved. Many high calibre personnel have also been gravely injured and even died at work.”

The Government, he said, remained committed to the provision of safe and healthy working environments throughout the country.

“My Ministry and indeed the Government is committed to the provision of safe and healthy working environments throughout Zimbabwe,” said Minister Chidhakwa. “To me, there is no justification whatsoever, for workers to die while fending for their families.

“Workers are the building blocks of any nation and Zimbabwe is no different.”

Speaking at the same event, nssa general manager Mr James Matiza said his organisation was taking measures to curb workplace accidents.

“NSSA  is implementing various strategies intended to bring to an end the numerous heinous occupational accidents, diseases and fatalities in our factories, agriculture, mines, roads, rail tracks and many others,” he said. “This engineers’ workshop is part of our occupational safety and health promotion strategy.”

The three-day workshop was being held under the theme: “Building and maintaining a culture of occupational safety and health.”