‘At Least 4,000 Workers Suffer Injuries Each Year in Job Accidents’
Over 4,000 workplace injuries have been recorded each year in Zimbabwe since 2022, a grim trend that Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo says must be urgently reversed to safeguard the nation’s workforce.
Addressing World Day for Safety and Health at Work commemorations held in Chinhoyi on Friday through a speech read by his deputy, Mercy Maruva-Dinha, Moyo expressed deep concern over the persistent toll of occupational accidents.
“The statistics on occupational accidents, injuries, and fatalities are deeply concerning.
“In 2022 the country recorded 4,912 serious accidents and 76 fatalities, in 2023 we had 4,334 serious accidents with 60 fatalities, in 2024 we had 4,242 accidents, with 70 fatalities,” said Moyo.
The 2025 outlook already appears bleak.
ALSO READ:‘Deadlier Than Before’ Zim Faces 218% Spike in Malaria Deaths
“This year alone in the first two months we have already recorded 720 injuries and 12 deaths.
Whilst we recognise the efforts made in reducing the occupational accidents let us remember that even a single injury or death is one too many,” he added.
World Day for Safety and Health, marked globally on April 28, underscores the importance of ensuring all workers operate in safe environments.
This year’s theme, “Occupational Safety and Health: Technology and the Future of Work,” aligns with the International Labour Organisation’s call to embrace AI and digitalisation in workplace safety.
Moyo said Zimbabwe must harness new technologies to drive down injury rates and improve oversight.
“This theme is especially timely and relevant, as Zimbabwe and the world are witnessing rapid technological advancements… AI-powered predictive analytics now allow us to foresee and prevent workplace hazards before they cause harm.”
He highlighted the role of smart technologies from wearable sensors to digital training platforms in creating safer work environments.
However, he also acknowledged new risks arising from automation and AI, such as job losses and mental strain.
“It is, therefore, critical to capacity build our workforce towards artificial intelligence and make them relevant and proactive to the future of work dynamics.”
To that end, government is reviewing outdated labour and safety policies to better align with digital-era challenges.
“We remain committed to strengthening our OSH statutes, ensuring they address both the risks and opportunities brought about by digitalisation,” said Moyo.
He also called on employers to step up safety enforcement, warning that neglect has wide economic and social consequences.
“We can not continue to lose valuable workers who are a key factor of production due to death and injury through preventable accidents.”
As Zimbabwe strives to achieve Vision 2030 and become an upper-middle-income economy, Moyo stressed that protecting workers must be a national priority.
“For us to achieve this vision, we must create a labour market that is resilient, productive, and sustainable; and that means putting OSH issues at the forefront of our national development agenda.”
He urged the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) to invest in digital infrastructure for better safety monitoring and compliance, adding that technology must be a tool not just for productivity, but for preserving life.
