15 Workers Killed in One of Zimbabwe's Worst Construction Accidents

A construction hoist carrying 15 workers and construction materials plummeted 17 floors to the ground Thursday, killing all on board. The workers fell more than 67 meters (200 feet). The other workers at the site were sent home.

The accident occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. at the new Millennium Towers building, being built by contractors John Sisk for the Central Africa Building Society.

As police tried to control onlookers and grieving relatives, government inspectors began to investigate what has become one of the worst construction accidents in the history of Zimbabwe.

Responding to the accident and reports from the National Social Security Authority that there were 20,000 industrial accidents in all sectors of industry last year, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) condemned the crash as a reflection of "low and deteriorating health and safety standards" in the country. The National Social Security Authority reported 20,000 industrial accidents in all sectors last year.

ZCTU secretary general Morgan Tsvangirai called for measures to protect workers from future accidents and to provide what he called "meaningful support" for the victims' families. Tsvangirai and Nicholas Mazarura, secretary to the government's Employment Council for the Construction Industry, asked all construction workers throughout the country to observe a moment of silence on Friday for the Millenium Towers workers.

The National Social Security Authority reported that there were 20,000 industrial accidents in all sectors of industry last year.