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African workers in Southern Rhodesia faced extremely poor working conditions between 1894 and 1932. Some of the conditions they faced included:
1. Working without protective clothing, which led to accidents, deaths, and casualties in mines.
2. Being forced to work under the supervision of the police force (chibaro).
3. No compensation for injuries sustained while working.
4. Being sjamboked (whipped) by their supervisors.
5. Heavy taxation that left them with little money to support themselves and their families.
6. No pension schemes for workers.
7. No representation or any union that could bargain for workers' rights.
8. Forced to work long contracts and being poorly paid.
These conditions were a result of colonial policies that prioritized the interests of white settlers over those of African workers. The lack of protective clothing, compensation for injuries, and pension schemes meant that African workers were vulnerable to exploitation and abuse by their employers.
Overall, the working conditions faced by Africans between 1894-1932 were characterized by extreme poverty, lack of protection from workplace hazards, and limited opportunities for collective bargaining or representation. These conditions contributed to social and economic inequalities that persisted long after independence in Zimbabwe.
