By Kwangu Manda,
Every day and night, there is a group of men who risk their lives for this country—not figuratively, but literally. These men, working more than a thousand metres below the surface, exhaust their bodies of energy, fluids, and oxygen to keep the Zambian economy afloat. For nearly a century, they have been the backbone of our beautiful nation.
The struggle for better working conditions has gone on for decades, but above all else, these men ask for one thing as they step out of their homes—kissing their families goodbye—that a prayer be said for their safe return.
Behind the strength of the Kwacha, the stability of our macroeconomic indicators, and the international recognition Mother Zambia receives, stands a man who faces countless dangers, all so his child can have a life he never had. To see his daughter grow and thrive is, for him, by the grace of God.
As citizens, we ought to take time to remember those who lost their lives in the service of mining—for this, too, often unrecognized, is service to the nation. Beyond politics, corporate strategies, and the daily routines of life, there are fathers who lived and loved, and there are grieving wives and children who still need our support.
Behind every tonne of mineral production is a human being who hoped to return home safely after a day or night shift.
We are miners.
Pray for us.
