‘Declare June 6 a holiday’

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CALLS are getting louder for the government to declare June 6 a public holiday to commemorate the death of 427 miners in the Kamandama Mine disaster in Hwange 43 years ago.
Wankie Colliery Mine managing director Thomas Makore
Wankie Colliery Mine managing director Thomas Makore

CALLS are getting louder for the government to declare June 6 a public holiday to commemorate the death of 427 miners in the Kamandama Mine disaster in Hwange 43 years ago.

BY THANDIWE MOYO

The miners died on June 6 1972 after a methane gas explosion ripped through the shaft trapping 427 miners inside. The mining industry has held commemorations of the disaster each year.

Speaking during commemorations of the disaster at the Kamandama Mine site on Saturday, president of the Associated Mine Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe Tinago Edmund Ruzive urged the government to declare the day a national holiday.

“Tragic as the day was, it ushered in a new and better approach to safety management in the sector. As a result, the mining industry has made great strides in the area of safety since that fateful day due to these gallant miners who lie at this shrine,” he said.

”Despite the fact that we now sound like a stuck record, we will continue to implore the government to declare the 6th of June a Safety and Health holiday.”

He said the disaster heightened safety consciousness within the mining industry and that it should be a lesson for the future.

“We contend that such a declaration will help heighten safety consciousness, not only in the mining industry, but across the sectorial divide. History is only important to the extent that it informs future behaviour accordingly, therefore, this is skewed towards the future.”

In an interview after the golf tournament on Friday, Wankie Colliery Mine managing director Thomas Makore said the disaster had touched a number of lives and that it was up to stakeholders to discuss on making the day a national holiday.

“The Kamandama disaster touched Zimbabweans and outside so I can understand the reasoning that is around that, but it’s something that needs to follow the processes of approval for that to be adopted,” Makore said.

“Personally, I think it should be a holiday that is relevant for the province. I would like to leave it to discussion for the company, the widows and stakeholders and then I can make a pronouncement.”

He added: “The Kamandama disaster is something that we have learnt from where lives were lost. We do not believe that they went to waste. We would like to see the Kamandama disaster as a day that marked a new beginning improved levels of safety, renewed hope at Hwange Colliery Company. The disaster is a heavy thought in the community of Hwange.

“As I said we are sad, but we have hope and we are saying people did not die for nothing. We want it to be a day of remembrance that marks new steps going forward.” Makore said the fact that Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko officiated at the commemoration was to show that the government respects the people who lost their loved ones and the day.

“The disaster touched the nation and the presence of the Vice-President is testimony to that it’s a national day,” he said.

“Already your question whether it should be a national holiday has already taken to the next level and that needs deliberation by different partners.

“So his presence is showing respect that the government has for this day and also saying they respect the people that lost their loved ones and they respect the fact that we as a company mark it on our annual calendar.”