Zimbabwe's Young Waste-Pickers Face Perils in Scrap Metal Trade

In Harare, Zimbabwe, young boys as young as six are engaging in hazardous work as waste-pickers, collecting scrap metal to support their families. These children, including eight-year-old Takudzwa Rapi and his friends, navigate the bustling Siyaso Market, a hub for informal steel fabrication, to gather discarded metal components for resale. Despite the dangers and the country's child labor laws prohibiting employment for those under 16, these boys work before and after school, often foraging through rubbish heaps and fabrication yards.

The boys sell their collected scrap to traders in Mbare, a low-income neighborhood, for minimal earnings. Prices range from 10 to 20 US cents per kilogram, with brass and copper pieces fetching slightly higher prices. The income, though meager, helps their families afford basic necessities. However, the work exposes them to significant risks, including injuries from sharp objects and potential health hazards.

Wayne Mpala, a former child waste-picker, recalls his own experiences of injury and the ongoing dangers faced by these young workers. Adolphus Chinomwe from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) highlights the hazardous conditions these children endure, calling for government intervention to protect them. Despite the legal framework against child labor, a significant percentage of Zimbabwean children are still engaged in such work, with the ILO estimating 4.2 million children involved in child labor across the country.

The global scrap metal market, valued at $64 billion in 2025 and projected to rise to $94 billion by 2032, drives the demand for scrap metal. This economic backdrop, coupled with Zimbabwe's lack of domestic iron ore production, has intensified the recycling wave, drawing more children into the dangerous trade. Observers note that the growing industry offers few protections for those at the bottom of the supply chain.

Mpala, now 33, continues to work in the scrap metal trade, having established his own mini-buying center in 2024. He buys scrap from young waste-pickers, often negotiating prices down to maximize profits. The scrap metal industry in Zimbabwe is competitive, with prices fluctuating based on negotiation, underscoring the challenging and often exploitative nature of the trade.

Despite the risks and challenges, the economic necessity drives these children and their families to continue participating in the scrap metal trade, highlighting the urgent need for systemic changes to protect vulnerable young workers in Zimbabwe.