STAFF WRITER
THE Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) has urged government to also prioritise mining industries as they were one of the most affected areas by the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic.
This, the union said was as a result of a number of cases which it has established were going unreported in mining areas.
In a statement, ZDAMWU General Secretary, Justice Chinhema said the union was deeply concerned about the lack of prioritisation of the industry which was set aside by government as an essential service during the lockdown.
“Since the beginning of the year ZDAMWU has been on ground in districts such as Hwange, Zvishavane, Bikita and Esigodini carrying out Covid-19 awareness campaigns. We have been educating workers and communities about the Covid-19, the second wave which is more deadly than the first wave and we are therefore encouraging workers to practice the required regulations.
“We are concerned about the unreported Covid-19 cases which seem to be high and we believe there is a need to carry out massive tests in mining communities,” said Chinhema.
He added: “In places such as Esigodini where there is no adherence to Covid-19 regulations and no regard to the law. Not much is being done to educate this sector.”
The workers’ union also said it was seized with an awareness campaign to fight against the deadly pandemic.
“As a union we are raising awareness in mining communities to fight Covid-19 by and being proactive as we intend to distribute about 5000 face masks across to families of mine workers.
“We will be sending SOS to our other sister unions outside Zimbabwe like NUM in South Africa through industrial for help towards test kits. We need to carry out testing of workers and families in mining communities where we think cases are not reported.”
