zama-zamahttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zama-zama_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezama zama, n.
First published 2015

zama zamanoun

South African colloquial.
  1. 2006–
    A person who works illegally in abandoned mine-shafts in order to retrieve metals, minerals, etc.
    1. 2006
      The news of the Zama Zama—which translates loosely as ‘let's try our luck’—emerged this week after 60 men appeared in court on charges of breaching mining regulations and illegal possession of explosives.
      Guardian 17 November 29/2
    2. 2010
      Police were informed about three seriously injured zama-zamas—the informal name given to illegal miners—at a mine at 9.30am.
      Times Live (South Africa) (Electronic edition) 12 October
    3. 2014
      Illegal mining of abandoned shafts is common in South Africa... The men, known as zama zama, are typically from poorer African countries and often live underground in dangerous and precarious conditions.
      Guardian (Nexis) 16 February
    4. 2018
      Nare had access to zama zamas, rhino smugglers and bank robbers because of his past.
      news24.com South Africa 25 January (news website, accessed 25 Jan. 2018)

zama zama, n. was first published in June 2015.

zama zama, n. was last modified in July 2023.