MINING is Zambia’s economic mainstay in that it is from this sector that the country earns the largest chunk of its revenue through export of various minerals.
Although copper is the main mineral quarried in the country, there are others excavated on the Copperbelt and now even North-Western Province, the new copperbelt.
Zambia possesses one of the world’s highest-grade deposits of copper and is ranked the seventh largest copper producer globally and second in Africa after Democratic Republic of Congo.
In addition, Zambia is home to small, exploitable deposits of cobalt, nickel, and manganese. Copper contributes over 70 percent of the country’s foreign export earnings.
Zambia’s mineral wealth has since the pre-colonial era been attracting foreign and domestic investors, with the former catering for the lion’s share of the overall investment portfolio in the sector.
Although the proliferation of investors in Zambia’s mining industry has been significantly contributing to its economic growth, this has had its own challenges, with the main one being compromised safety in mining operations.
Aware that mining is one of the most dangerous job sectors where miners have a high risk of workrelated injuries and fatalities, Zambia has in place the Mine Safety Department (MSD), which ensures strict adherence to safety guidelines by all players in the industry.
However, MSD has been facing challenges such as erratic funding and poor transport which hinder its officers from undertaking regular inspections to ensure that employers and workers comply with safety guidelines.
As a result, the country has been experiencing recurrent accidents in the sector in which miners’ lives have been lost.
Just in a space of two months, Zambia has recorded two major mine mishaps, with the worst one being at Senseli Mine in Chingola where over 30 miners were trapped underground.
And now seven miners – five Zambians and two Chinese – got trapped underground at Microlink Resources Limited in Ndola on Monday, prompting stakeholders to call for employment of more mine inspectors to reduce accidents.
The stakeholders believe safety in the mines can only be attained through regular inspections to ensure compliance to safety regulations.
According to United Mineworkers Union of Zambia president Wisdom Ngwira, there are many mines in the country but safety standards, especially in smaller mines, are compromised because inspectors do not regularly visit them.
“Small mines take advantage of this lapse in inspections to set high production targets to maximise profits, but this is usually done at the expense of workers’ safety and health,” Mr Ngwira told us yesterday.
We agree with him because safety is paramount in the mining industry. Miners are exposed to an array of hazards both above and underground which can cause serious injury, disability, or even death.
Mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. That is why it is important that mine safety is understood by all workers involved in mining activities so that they know how to stay safe while working in this environment.
Equally, employers need to be aware of the relevant work health and safety regulations and have in place mining safety management frameworks to ensure safe work conditions for employees.
We urge employers in the mining sector to be responsible enough and avoid taking advantage of the absence of inspectors to ignore safety guidelines because this has been the principal cause of the continued mine accidents.
Regular inspections key to mine safety
MINING is Zambia’s economic mainstay in that it is from this sector that the country earns the largest chunk of its revenue through export of various minerals.
Although copper is the main mineral quarried in the country, there are others excavated on the Copperbelt and now even North-Western Province, the new copperbelt.
Zambia possesses one of the world’s highest-grade deposits of copper and is ranked the seventh largest copper producer globally and second in Africa after Democratic Republic of Congo.
In addition, Zambia is home to small, exploitable deposits of cobalt, nickel, and manganese. Copper contributes over 70 percent of the country’s foreign export earnings.
Zambia’s mineral wealth has since the pre-colonial era been attracting foreign and domestic investors, with the former catering for the lion’s share of the overall investment portfolio in the sector.
Although the proliferation of investors in Zambia’s mining industry has been significantly contributing to its economic growth, this has had its own challenges, with the main one being compromised safety in mining operations.
Aware that mining is one of the most dangerous job sectors where miners have a high risk of workrelated injuries and fatalities, Zambia has in place the Mine Safety Department (MSD), which ensures strict adherence to safety guidelines by all players in the industry.
However, MSD has been facing challenges such as erratic funding and poor transport which hinder its officers from undertaking regular inspections to ensure that employers and workers comply with safety guidelines.
As a result, the country has been experiencing recurrent accidents in the sector in which miners’ lives have been lost.
Just in a space of two months, Zambia has recorded two major mine mishaps, with the worst one being at Senseli Mine in Chingola where over 30 miners were trapped underground.
And now seven miners – five Zambians and two Chinese – got trapped underground at Microlink Resources Limited in Ndola on Monday, prompting stakeholders to call for employment of more mine inspectors to reduce accidents.
The stakeholders believe safety in the mines can only be attained through regular inspections to ensure compliance to safety regulations.
According to United Mineworkers Union of Zambia president Wisdom Ngwira, there are many mines in the country but safety standards, especially in smaller mines, are compromised because inspectors do not regularly visit them.
“Small mines take advantage of this lapse in inspections to set high production targets to maximise profits, but this is usually done at the expense of workers’ safety and health,” Mr Ngwira told us yesterday.
We agree with him because safety is paramount in the mining industry. Miners are exposed to an array of hazards both above and underground which can cause serious injury, disability, or even death.
Mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. That is why it is important that mine safety is understood by all workers involved in mining activities so that they know how to stay safe while working in this environment.
Equally, employers need to be aware of the relevant work health and safety regulations and have in place mining safety management frameworks to ensure safe work conditions for employees.
We urge employers in the mining sector to be responsible enough and avoid taking advantage of the absence of inspectors to ignore safety guidelines because this has been the principal cause of the continued mine accidents.