Occupational Safety and Health Hazards Associated with Informal Sector Enterprises at Magaba, Mbare, Harare Zimbabwe

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue II, February 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Occupational Safety and Health Hazards Associated with Informal Sector Enterprises at Magaba, Mbare, Harare Zimbabwe

 Mandevere, B¹, Jerie, S^2
1PhD Student, University of South Africa
²Midlands State University Zimbabwe

Abstract: – Occupational safety and health issues are a critical aspect of the developmental agenda in Zimbabwe. This study investigates the hazards associated with the informal sector activities at Magaba in Mbare high density suburb of Harare. To achieve this, interviews and observations were employed in data gathering together with secondary data. The study was conducted at Magaba, situated in Mbare, the oldest high-density suburb in Harare the capital city of Zimbabwe. Findings revealed that the hazards included fires, gas explosions, cuts, violence, noise, falling among others. In order to ameliorate the safety and health risks there is need for the informal enterprise operators to be capacitated and educated on occupational hazards. The responsible authorities need to regard the informal sector enterprises in the same manner as the formal sector by ensuring proper coming up and enforcing of safety legislation.

Key Words:-Informal Sector, Safety and Health, Magaba, Harare

I. INTRODUCTION

In most developmental issues, be they formal or informal safety and health issues are topical. The aim of this study was to analyse the occupational hazards associated with informal sector enterprises at Magaba in Harare Zimbabwe. The existence of occupational hazards can be traced back to “ancient man the hunter and gatherer who became the natural prey of his carnivorous neighbors” according to French (1993). Throughout the history of antiquity, the Stone Age, Iron Age, right up to the industrial era, man has always been plagued by injuries and fatalities (Kotze 1992). In most developing countries such as Zimbabwe economic activities are dominated by the informal sector and the workers in this sector are exposed to a multiplicity of occupational hazards of all forms and not much is done to reduce them.
An informal activity is characterized by ease of entry, reliance on indigenous resources, family ownership, small scale cooperation, and labour intensive and adaptive technology, skills acquired outside the formal and unregulated and competitive markets.

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