BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AMWUZ
The Associated Mineworkers Union of Zimbabwe was first registered as a trade union in 1938 as Associated Mine Workers of Zimbabwe.. The first Congress of the union took place in Kadoma in 1938 and Robert Connolly was elected President. The General Secretary elected was Mr.L.I.Deary.
Mr Connolly was succeeded by Mr Freddie Miller, who served from 1943 to 1946 and he in turn was followed by Mr Egon Kifgon who served from1946 to 1949.Mr Hajo Spandow was elected in 1949 and served to 1953 and was followed by Mr H. B. Bloomfield who served from 1953 to 1981.Mr J.S Mutandare who was elected by the congress held in Harare in 1981 and subsequently re-elected in 1983.Mr Mutandare worked at the Trojan Nickel Mine and held the post of Branch Chairman for ten years. He was appointed to work as an Organising Secretary in 1978 and subsequently elected as President in 1981.
From its inception in 1938 to 1960 the union merely served the needs of the skilled daily employees working in the mining industry. African people working in the mining industry were not at that time permitted to join or form trade unions. This was due to a peculiar interpretation of a legal requirement that did not classify African mineworkers as employees. Their terms of employment were laid down in the Masters and Servants Act, instead of in the provisions of the industrial Conciliation Act. The Masters and Servants Act was originally introduced by the Charter Company, the British South African Company.
Because of these legal limitations the African mineworker’s were denied protection of the industrial conciliation Act amended, in order to remove these restrictions and in 1961 the government amended the Act.
From that year onwards the membership of the Associated Mine Workers union of Zimbabwe has been multi racial and toady the union is the largest trade union in Zimbabwe.
In 1981 there were three trade unions operating within the mining industry, the AMWUZ, the Mine Officials and Salaried Association (MOSSA) and the Zimbabwe Mineworkers Union. The interests of the three unions merged together in 1982 in compliance with the requirements of the Governments labour policies and the Conference held in Harare in May 1983 Cde Mutandare was re-elected President,Cde Stone Goremasandu was elected Senior Vice President and Cde Lovemore Musvamhiri was elected General Secretary .
In 2004 Mr.Tinago Edmund Ruzive who was the General Secretary became president taking over from Mr Jeffery Matandare whilst Mr. Joseph Midzi became the general Secretary. The union name was subsequently changed from Associated Mine workers of Zimbabwe to Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe in 2009 at a Congress. In 2015 Mr .Joseph Midzi passed way and Mr. Gideon Chirwa became the General Secretary. In 2020 Mr.T.E.Ruizve passed away and Mr.Serios Papias became the Acting President to date.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the union to promote, protect the social and economic well being of workers by defending their rights and interests. To unite, inspire and educate our members. Educate organise and negotiate collective agreements. Enhance workers productivity, safety and contribute to corporate competitiveness and promote industrial peace.
VISION STATEMENT
A proactive union of choice, accountable organisation, a leader in labour relations, influencing development through policy making in partnership with the relevant stakeholders.
VALUES
Excellence – a commitment to focus on a culture of best business practice.
Dignity and Respect – Equal treatment and opportunity for all employees with transparent process founded on dignity and respect and encouraging a sense of ownership.
Accountability and transparency to stakeholders
Commitment– We take heart our organisational vision, mission and objectives as well as our individual duties and responsibilities. We put them at the service of our members and their families, workers in general and our country.
Competence- We accept different but related areas of responsibilities and competencies. We demonstrate individual initiative, professionalism and activism. On the other hand we provide mutual support for development and productivity. We are in pursuit of complete, timely, quality, relevant and honest work.
Independence –We exist as a sovereign entity in freedom, we critically work and negotiate with social partners to protect the rights of workers and unions.
Integrity – We uphold the highest standards of conduct. We adhere to truth-value life practice non violence and keep morale uprightness in our relationships, responsibilities and organisational structures, policies, processes, decisions and practices.
