Dennis Ndlovu|Zim GBC News
Participants at the Bulawayo public hearings for the Occupational Safety and Health Bill (H.B. 6) argued that a key weakness of the proposed legislation is its vagueness, specifically calling for a clause that would mandate not just suggest the employment of qualified safety professionals in workplaces above a certain size.
Participants, including safety practitioners, union leaders, and private citizens, highlighted what they see as critical gaps in the bill that could undermine its intention to safeguard Zimbabwean workers.
Tinotenda Mandizvo argued that the bill must formally recognize and define the role of a qualified OSH professional, distinguishing it from safety representatives and medical personnel. She insisted that minimum qualifications must be explicitly stated to ensure competency.
Mandizvo also called for the formal recognition of the Zimbabwe Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (ZEOSH) in the management of OSH matters. A key demand was for the bill to make it mandatory for organizations above a specific employee threshold to hire a dedicated OSH officer.
“The current phrasing ‘the Minister may prescribe’ is too vague and leads to inconsistent enforcement,” Mandizvo stated.
She further advocated that the role of OSH practitioners should be elevated above that of OSH representatives who may lack formal qualifications, and that these professionals must be included in top management structures to prioritize safety in decision making.
Highlighting the dire situation in some sectors, Tinotendaishe Paul Chidakwa, the Secretary General for the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Bulawayo Province), shared his personal experience as a practical subjects teacher.
He revealed that he has never been visited by a government official to check on occupational health and safety conditions at his school.
“I don’t even have a work suit or a safety shoe and I don’t even know where to report that. The person whom I report to simply says there’s no money in the institution and after that, it all goes up in smoke,” Chidakwa said.
He pleaded for the bill to include a clause mandating regular, proactive inspections of all institutions.
He also questioned who is responsible when a worker is injured on the job, stating,
“I’m born as an able-bodied man and then I go to work and I leave work as a disabled individual and not catered for by any organization.”
Gilbert Mhangwa acknowledged the bill as a significant milestone but raised several technical concerns.
He questioned whether the bill adequately applies to government premises and employees, noting that its application seems focused on defined “protected areas.”
Mhangwa also expressed apprehension about delegating OSH functions to the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), citing potential conflicts of interest and systemic risk.
“History has shown that national social security can collapse. And if there is an OSH act under that administration, then if it collapses for whatever reason, what then becomes of OSH functions?” he asked.
He further pointed to a lack of a clear centre of power for enforcement, arguing that the current structure disperses authority too widely.
He suggested that this could lead to a lack of coordination and coherence in implementing the act, a serious policy matter that he believes must be addressed in line with International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.
The submissions from Bulawayo indicate a strong public desire for a law that is not only well-written but also practically enforceable, with clear lines of responsibility for both employers and the government to prevent workplace accidents and ensure proper care for injured workers.
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