THE Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) has implemented an action and strategic plan focused on workers’ rights and industry growth.
Zimbabwe is a mineral-rich country with over 60 different minerals including the platinum group metals, chrome, gold, coal, diamonds and lithium, accounting for about 12% of the country’s gross domestic product.
However, gross corruption, policy inconsistencies, high taxes and royalties, unattractive investment policies and mineral smuggling have kept the nation from fully realising the sectors earnings potential.
Government last year failed to achieve an ambitious five-year plan implemented in 2018 of getting the mining sector to generate US$12 billion in annual revenue.
For mine workers, this failure has led to widespread violation of miners rights through unfavourable pay and poor working conditions.
Speaking at the third edition of the ZDAMWU regional meeting held under the theme Adopting ZDAMWU Strategic Plan Framework Towards Inclusive Building Union Power and Securing Jobs and Transformation in Harare this week, the union detailed the strategic plan.
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“The strategic plan is aimed at promoting and defending workers’ rights, transforming the mining industry, and advocating for essential policy changes,” ZDAMWU general-secretary Justice Chinhema told NewsDay Business following the meeting.
“This comprehensive five-year pronged strategy focuses on organising to build power, defending workers’ rights and interests, promoting sustainable industry development and advocating amendments to laws regulating the mining sector.”
Key initiatives outlined in the plan include conducting workshops and training programmes for union leaders and members while also engaging with government and industry stakeholders to advocate policy changes.
The plan will also seek collaborations with international organisations to promote best practices and establishing a miners’ welfare fund to support members and their families.
In an earlier speech, Chinhema said the plan was intended to tackle pressing issues faced by miners.
“For the real change and transformation to happen in the industry, an all-inclusive action plan must be implemented at section, mine, branch, regional and national level,” he said.
At ZDAMWU’s recently held second congress in Bulawayo, resolutions were made around building a strong trade union that can address challenges currently faced by mine workers across the country.
Another resolution included defending workers and community rights by confronting these challenges in an inclusive manner.
The congress received and noted that the increasing spate of “multiple” unions in the industry has done more harm than good to the industry, as most mine workers remain non-unionised owing to scepticism.
However, the congress directed the union to position itself as the real advocate for mine workers, the marginalised and communities where mining is taking place.
“The aim is to address misconceptions about the role of trade unions in the workplace, society, and in the country towards (Vision 2030) of building a middle-income economy by 2030,” Chinhema said.
“Further, this aims to build collaborations with all our stakeholders for the benefit of all and promotion of industry harmony.”