Source: Zim confronts workplace risks as fatalities rise – herald
Tawanda Musarurwa
IMAGES of workers dangling several floors above Harare’s busy central business district without visible safety harnesses have reignited debate over occupational safety and health standards in Zimbabwe.
Concern was again raised this week after workers were seen cleaning windows at Takura House, at the corner of First Street and Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, while operating on the eighth and ninth floors without apparent protective equipment.
The incident, captured in photographs circulating online, has triggered renewed calls for employers and property managers to prioritize worker safety, particularly during high-risk maintenance operations where a single misstep can result in death or permanent injury.
The images have also sharpened the relevance of this year’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work commemorations, where Government officials, labour bodies and occupational safety experts warned that Zimbabwe is facing a worsening workplace safety crisis.
Addressing commemorations held in Gweru, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo said occupational safety and health could no longer be treated as a narrow compliance issue focused only on physical hazards.
“This year’s theme is both timely and compelling. It reminds us that occupational safety and health are no longer confined to physical hazards alone. It encompasses mental health, emotional well-being, dignity, and respect in the workplace,” he said.
“Psychosocial risks such as chronic stress, harassment, burnout, violence at work, and job insecurity are increasingly prevalent and, if left unaddressed, can severely undermine productivity, morale, and the quality of life of our workers.”
The commemorations were held under the theme: “Let us ensure a healthy psychosocial working environment.”
But beyond psychosocial risks, the Minister painted a grim picture of Zimbabwe’s broader workplace safety record, revealing that occupational injuries and fatalities continue to rise.
According to the NSSA 2025 Annual Report cited by Minister Moyo, reported occupational injuries increased by 4 percent to 4 414 cases in 2025, while workplace deaths rose by 11,4 percent from 70 fatalities in 2024 to 78 in 2025.
The situation remains alarming this year, with 22 workers already killed and 1 236 seriously injured during the first quarter of 2026 alone.
“These figures are not mere statistics. They represent human beings, breadwinners, parents, sons, and daughters whose lives were cut short while trying to earn an honest living,” said the Minister.
“The social and economic cost of these losses is immeasurable.”
He warned against what he described as a dangerous tendency by some companies to sacrifice safety in pursuit of profits and production targets.
“We are particularly concerned by the growing tendency, especially in difficult economic times, for some enterprises to prioritize production targets and profits over worker safety and health,” he said.
“Let me be clear: there can be no sustainable productivity without safety. Safety is not a cost; it is an investment.”
The Minister also expressed concern over the worsening conditions in Zimbabwe’s expanding informal economy, particularly in artisanal and small-scale mining, where many workplace deaths reportedly go undocumented.
“Mine collapses, toxic exposures, and preventable accidents continue to claim lives, yet these workers remain outside our protection systems, unregistered, unregulated, and uncovered by the Workers’ Compensation Scheme,” he said.
“They often work without adequate training, proper protective equipment, or access to occupational health services.”
The concerns raised by Government were echoed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which warned that occupational safety now extends far beyond visible physical dangers.
In a solidarity message delivered at the commemorations, ILO Zimbabwe and Namibia director Ms Philile Masuku said psychosocial risks were increasingly becoming a major global workplace challenge.
“Long working hours, job insecurity, excessive workloads, low control over work, bullying, harassment, and violence can all create harmful working environments if not addressed,” she said.
“These risks affect mental and physical health, workplace morale, productivity, and organizational performance.”
The ILO noted that nearly three million workers die globally each year from work-related accidents and diseases, while psychosocial risks alone contribute to more than 840 000 deaths annually.
In Zimbabwe, Ms Masuku said limited data on psychosocial risks made it necessary to strengthen prevention systems, reporting mechanisms and enforcement structures.
Despite the challenges, Government says significant progress has been made towards strengthening occupational safety protections.
Minister Moyo said the new Occupational Safety and Health Bill had already passed through Cabinet and Parliament and undergone nationwide consultations.
The proposed legislation seeks to align Zimbabwe’s labour safety framework with International Labour Organisation conventions on mining safety, chemical safety and occupational health promotion.
Government is also increasing labour inspections and recruiting specialist inspectors in civil and chemical engineering to improve oversight in high-risk sectors such as construction, manufacturing and mining.
Minister Moyo said the country’s Vision Zero strategy – which seeks to eliminate preventable workplace injuries and deaths – would require collective action from employers, workers and regulators alike.
“The journey towards Vision Zero is a marathon, not a sprint,” he said.
“It demands unwavering commitment, strong partnerships, and a shared belief that every workplace injury, disease, and death is preventable.”
As debate over the Takura House incident continues, labour experts say the images may have exposed a deeper national challenge: the gap between workplace safety laws on paper and safety enforcement in practice.
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