(News of The South) – The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) donated a soccer uniform kit to workers at Renco Mine in Masvingo Province.
The gesture is part of union’s social responsibility program which seeks to ensure that workers’ physical and mental health are developed through participation in such activities as soccer, arguably one of the most popular sport in mining communities across the country.
ZDAMWU’s General Secretary, Justice Chinhema said the union realised that apart from fighting for salaries and other working conditions, sport is central in developing workers mental and emotional health hence the need to invest in this noble initiative.
“We make this donation today as a gesture to demonstrate that we are not only obsessed with talking about salaries but we also care about your physical and mental health. This helps to take away the pressures and other work related stress that is associated with such closed communities as mines” said Chinhema.
He said since time immemorial, mining communities were deprived of many sporting activities and the few available ones were not properly resourced making it difficult for many workers to partake them.
“The union will try and mobilise resources to ensure that this gesture is extended to other mines targeting other popular activities such as dance, music and debates among others. We want to unite workers through sport,” said the firebrand unionist.
Chinhema said apart from assisting sporting activities, the union will explore on ways of how they can support wives of mine workers to enable them to compliment the low and inadequate salaries earned by their husbands.
This, he said will help reduce some social conflicts which are normally associated with mining communities as increased revenue in families will bring peace and happiness in their homes.
“This is going to be our thrust going forward. We want to ensure that our members and the general workforce is happy at their workplaces and off the field,” he said.
Renco Mine human resources manager Joel Siziba, football club chairperson Andrew Mbengeranwa, ZDAMWU branch chairperson Rueben Kayenga and workers’ committee chairperson David Mangwiroto said the donation was the first of its kind and praised the union for being sensitive to the workers’ social needs.
“We are speechless and moved by this donation. We appreciate the efforts by the union under these very difficult and challenging times which has not spared anyone. Surely ZDAMWU has demonstrated beyond doubt that it is a cut above the rest. You are number by can one,” said David Mangwiroto who spoke on behalf of his colleagues.
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