Unity among African mining unions cardinal – Federation of African miners

By NOEL IYOMBWA

THE Federation of African Miners and Mineral Wealth (FAMMW) has resolved to advance a united African labor voice to safeguard workers’ rights and promote equitable resource governance, benefiting African mining communities.
Addressing delegates at the FAMMW 3rd Executive Council Meeting in Accra, Ghana, Federation President Joseph Chewe emphasized that unity among African mining unions is crucial to confront the global push for Africa’s critical minerals, driven by global powers like China and the United States.
“Unity among African mining unions must go beyond statements and intent, and translate into coordinated action. We must speak with one voice on critical issues: labor standards, safety, wages, and the protection of collective bargaining agreements. Solidarity must be practical and visible,” Mr Chewe said.
“A fragmented union movement across borders only benefits those who seek to divide us and extract minerals while prioritizing profits above all else,” he said.
Mr. Chewe, who is also President of the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) stated that Africa’s wealth in critical minerals and rare earth elements has made the continent a focal point of global attention, yet African workers remain vulnerable and disadvantaged.
He emphasized that without unity and solidarity, workers lose bargaining power, while the resources benefit others more than the African worker and surrounding communities.
He highlighted the risks of flexible labor models, outsourcing, and external control of production systems, which undermine job security, weaken unions, and dilute national sovereignty.
Mr. Chewe urged African Mineworker unions to reposition strategically and engage proactively in shaping mining policies, ensuring value addition and industrialization on African soil.
“The future of our minerals must not be limited to extraction, but must include transformation, manufacturing, and job creation for our people.
The federation must address these issues and ensure that when workers in one country face exploitation, unions across Africa respond collectively,” Mr. Chewe said.
Mr. Chewe emphasized that the federation prioritizes protecting African miners’ dignity, investing in safety, health systems, housing, and community development, while ensuring safety is never compromised for profit.
The 3rd Executive Council Meeting of FAMMW is being held in Accra, Ghana, from March 26-28, 2026, under the theme: “Strengthening Unity and Solidarity among African Unions of Mines to Confront the New Global Order and Attempts to Control Natural Resources and Rare Minerals.”
The continental gathering of the trade union leaders in the African mining sector was officially opened by Ghanaian Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment Adul-Rashid Hassan Peupuo who disclosed that the control of key mineral resource in Ghana has boosted the economy,
Dr. Peupuo called for strengthened regional integration through the African continental free trade area to ensure control of key mineral resources in African countries.