Delivered by: Justice Chinhema, General Secretary
Theme: “Empowering Workers – Empowering Voices”
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Salutations
Comrades, brothers and sisters, fellow workers,
Today, we gather in Hwange and other places across the country with pride and purpose to commemorate the International Workers Day under the powerful theme: Empowering Workers – Empowering Voices.
This day is not just a celebration. It is a reminder of our shared struggle, our resilience, and our unwavering commitment to justice, dignity, and fair treatment for every worker in Zimbabwe’s mining sector and beyond.
It is historic that this year, our union holds its main Workers Day commemorations here in Hwange for the first time, Hwange is not just a place – it is a symbol of the sweat, sacrifice, and strength of mine workers who power our nation.
Today, we honour you.
We extend our appreciation to Lyeja FM for agreeing to celebrate their own achievements with mine workers today – here in Hwange. Dear partner, we congratulate you for your achievements and we look forward to continue working with you as we empower workers and empower voices.
As ZDAMWU, we believe we have entered into a strategic partnership which will serve as a vital platform for mine workers and our communities. This partnership will give our members a dedicated voice on the airwaves – ensuring that the stories, struggles, and victories of mine workers are heard in every home, compound, and community where our members live and work.
Lyeja FM as a Community Radio Station, will serve as a platform for workers’ education, health and safety awareness, legal rights information, CBA updates, and community solidarity. A worker who is informed is a worker who is protected. We commend all those whose dedication and vision made this community radio commissioning a reality and we stand together in unity and reflection with profound respect and unwavering solidarity.
Comrades, this year’s celebrations come at a pivotal moment in our union’s journey. Last year, we celebrated our hard-won inclusion in the National Employment Council (NEC) for the mining industry—a milestone achieved amid competition from numerous longstanding and emerging unions. Today, we celebrate a significant impact of our inclusion – the achievement of our new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), now gazetted under SI 71 of 2026. This replaces the outdated 1990 agreement and introduces stronger worker protections across the mining industry. This is a victory born out of unity, persistence, and constructive negotiation. It is proof that when workers stand with a strong voice and engage meaningfully with employers, progress is possible.
However, let us be clear: this is not the end of the journey. It is a step forward. Through continued dialogue and partnership, much work still lies ahead to fully realise fair conditions across all mining operations.
Fellow workers, as our nation aspires to become an upper middle-income economy, the union stand firm on the issue of decent work and a living wage.
Mine workers remain central to Zimbabwe’s economic lifeblood. As the engine that powers the extraction of our nation’s mineral wealth, they are essential stakeholders whose welfare must be prioritised by both government and employers.
Mine workers must not remain poor while they generate wealth. A worker who cannot afford basic needs is a worker whose dignity has been compromised. Through our participation in the National Employment Council and dialogue with cooperating employers, we are continuing with our mission to ensure wages reflect the true cost of living.
We reiterate our call in the industry for a minimum wage of US$650:00, reflecting the dangerous nature of mining work and the soaring value of the minerals they extract every day. We believe these targets are achievable through constructive negotiation and mutual commitment to workers’ welfare.
Further, as we are pushing to achieve this basic pay, we are also looking on other areas covered in Schedule F of the CBA so as to review upwards some of the allowances as well as include transport and housing allowances to cushion our workers.
We acknowledge that this process might take long but we are confident we shall achieve.
Comrades, too many of our colleagues have not returned home from work. Too many families have been shattered by preventable accidents. Too many workers continue to suffer from occupational diseases that could have been avoided.
The union’s position is that Safety in our mines is not negotiable. It is not a luxury. It is not a cost to be minimised. It is a fundamental right of every worker who descends into the earth or operates machinery to extract the wealth of our nation. Every worker deserves to return home alive, unharmed, and healthy at the end of every shift.
We call upon company management across the mining sector to make occupational health and safety their number one priority.
Let us be clear: investing in safety is investing in productivity. A safe worker is a confident worker. A confident worker is a productive worker. When management prioritises safety, they are not just protecting lives – they are building a more efficient, sustainable, and profitable operation. This is not a zero-sum game. Everyone wins when workers go home safely.
This means:
- Providing adequate and quality Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to every worker without exception – not as a favour, but as a basic requirement
- Conducting regular and thorough safety inspections with worker participation and transparency
- Implementing comprehensive training programs for all workers on safety protocols, hazard identification, and emergency response
- Installing and maintaining modern safety equipment, ventilation systems, and early warning mechanisms in all mining operations
- Ensuring regular medical examinations and health monitoring for early detection of occupational diseases such as silicosis, tuberculosis, and hearing loss
- Creating transparent reporting systems where workers can raise safety concerns without fear of victimisation
- Investigating every accident thoroughly with worker representatives and implementing corrective measures immediately
We are ready to work hand-in-hand with management to develop and implement comprehensive safety programs. Worker representatives must be included in safety committees at every level. Workers know the ground reality – their voices and expertise are invaluable in identifying hazards and developing practical solutions.
Comrades, allow me to extend this message to company management across Zimbabwe’s mining sector. Progressive trade unions like ZDAMWU are your stakeholders, not your enemies. We are partners in building a thriving mining industry, not obstacles to progress.
ZDAMWU does not exist to create problems. We exist to solve them – together with you. When workers are treated fairly, respected, and safe, they are more motivated, more loyal, and more productive. When workers have a voice through their union, grievances are addressed before they escalate into costly litigation.
A strong union is a sign of a healthy workplace, not a threat. Where there is constructive engagement between management and workers’ representatives, there is stability. Where there is dialogue, there is mutual understanding. Where there is partnership, there is progress.
ZDAMWU stands ready to build constructive relationships with all mining companies. We bring to the table our commitment to productive dialogue, our understanding of industry challenges, and our expertise in worker welfare. We want to work with you to create workplaces that are safe, fair, and prosperous for all. Let us build together.
To every mine worker listening today – whether you are here in Hwange, in Zvishavane or in Mutoko, in gold mines, lithium mines or in any operation across Zimbabwe – we say: your voice matters. But your voice is stronger when it joins with others.
When you join ZDAMWU, you are not just joining a union. You are joining a family of mine workers and becoming a legacy mine worker.
We have already achieved significant victories together, we need every mine worker to join us. The stronger our membership, the stronger our voice at the negotiating table. The more united we are, the more we can achieve as a family.
To our existing members: thank you for your loyalty and your solidarity. Keep recruiting. Bring your colleagues into the fold. Every new member strengthens our voices. Every voice that joins the chorus makes our song louder and impossible to ignore. Unity is our strongest defence.
As I conclude, comrades, let me be clear, ZDAMWU is not just talking – we are acting.
Let there be no doubt: ZDAMWU is here, and ZDAMWU is delivering. We are here today, standing on the ground of Hwange – And we will continue to be here – in your mines, at the negotiating table, in forums with employers, in dialogue with regulators, and on the international stage – until every mine worker in Zimbabwe lives and works in dignity.
As your General Secretary, I reaffirm our union’s commitment to:
- Defending workers’ rights through constructive engagement and dialogue,
- Strengthening collective bargaining at every level with all stakeholders,
- Promoting safe, healthy, and humane working conditions through partnership,
- Ensuring that no worker is left behind through inclusive participation in development processes,
- Building bridges between workers and management for sustainable industrial relations.
Forward with workers’ rights!
Forward with unity!
Forward with safety!
Happy Workers’ Day to you all.
Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU)
General Secretary: Justice Chinhema | Tel: 0772 976 261 / 0717 803 553
Workers Day, 1 May 2026 – Hwange, Zimbabwe
