By Surihe Gaomas WINDHOEK The Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN) has come out strongly against what it considers an alarming rate of fatal accidents and injuries of mineworkers in the country. Citing the health and safety situation in the mining sector at a press briefing yesterday, MUN General Secretary, Joseph Hengari, said there have been various accidents at Otjihase, Kombat, Tsumeb and other mines. Statistics revealed by the union indicate that two underground mine workers lost their lives at Kombat mine in April and September of 2003, while at Otjihase mine three lives were lost in January and December, with two serious injuries. In 2004 at RÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚¶ssing Uranium mine, two people died while on duty between August and March 2004, with eight people seriously injured. More such cases were again reported early this year at the Otjihase mine where a number of fatal accidents, and disabling and minor injuries were reported. The latest one being in March this year when a mine worker died instantly when the vehicle which she was driving ran out of control and struck a stationary underground drill rig. Three of her co-workers who were passengers sustained severe injuries, one sustained disabling injuries while 33 sustained minor injuries. Hengari noted with concern that these figures portray a “negative picture of how big the numbers (are) of our members working underground, sweating and digging precious metals that never harbour their dinner tables (and) used to lose their lives.” (sic) He added that the MUN would not sit idle at the expense of their members as most of these accidents are avoidable. He said proper health and safety structures needed to be put in place for the sake of the mineworkers. “It’s happening at an alarming rate and we therefore call upon employers to introduce very strict measures when it comes to health and safety through workplace safety committees. Currently, the only company that has all these structures in place are RÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚¶ssing and Namdeb. But Ongopolo, Rosh Pinah and Scorpion Zinc mine, they don’t have any committees in place,” explained Hengari. Most of the accidents that cause neck injuries, backache, paralysis and even death underground are a result of loose rocks falling on the mine workers. “The lives and safety of our members are put at risk and we say no unless all safety precautions are adhered to and implemented. If government is going to sit idle, MUN will take the law into our own hands and order our people not to work underground, unless the situation changes for the better. We don’t want to see any more loss of lives,” said Hengari. He cited the cause of the TCL strike as concerns that could have been resolved had the situation been handled properly. MUN leaders attending the media briefing concurred that employers should stop maximising profits at the expense of their employees. They urged employers to implement health and safety regulations in order to minimise loss of lives. This should be carried out in line with Section 96 of the country’s Labour Act.