BY OWN CORRESPONDENT

THE National Social Security Authority (NSSA) processed a total 12 400 workplace injuries claims last year alone in a development which reflects the country’s occupational and safety gaps.

In 2022, Zimbabwe recorded 4,912 workplace injuries and 70 fatalities. While injuries dropped to 4,334 in 2023 with 60 deaths, the trend failed to sustain.

In 2024, 4,242 injuries and 70 fatalities were recorded before rising again in 2025 to 4,414 injuries and 78 deaths, the highest death toll in the period under review. The figures translate to an average of more than 12 workplace injuries recorded every day.

Addressing workers recently , Professor Paul Mavima who was representing the Labour, Public Service and Social Welfare Minister said last year alone, a sizable number of workplace injuries claims were processed.

“NSSA processed 12,400 workforce injury compensation claims. These are real statistics reflecting our current occupation. In the same year, our inspectors issued 847 improvement notices and 143 prohibition notices following workplace inspections and safety gaps.

“Behind every number is a family broken by loss, a child without a parent, a household without an earner. The government has embraced the zero harm approach as our government philosophy in workplace safety because even one accident is far too many. We preach no injury and no fatality, hence the zero harm vision,” he said.

Mavima underscored that the government remains fully committed to ensuring that those Zimbabweans who work for a living go home and are able to feed their families through our 48 National Employment Councils out of which 17 NECs conducted collective bargaining agreements with meaningful wage adjustments for workers in the last 12 months.

He charged trade unions with the responsibility to be aggressive when they represent the workers in the Employment Councils and committed to support the working class of this nation as they negotiate with their employers through their NECs.