By own correspondent

A glimmer of hope is on the horizon for Zimbabwean miners who worked in South African gold mines who are set to receive compensation following the launch of a collaborative initiative between the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and Tshiamiso Trust.

The programme aims to help ex-mine workers who developed silicosis, a form of tuberculosis, and their dependents with medical assessments and lodge claims for compensation in Zimbabwe.

According to the agreement, Baines Occupational Health Services clinics in Harare, Gweru and Bulawayo have been selected to handle the claims.

Speaking during the launch and signing of a memorandum of understanding, Tshiamiso Trust chief executive officer Munyadziwa Kwinda said the launch of the service represents a critical milestone in their regional mandate to reach eligible claimants.

“We are honoured to mark this moment in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe and NSSA,” he said.

 “Thousands of Zimbabwean ex-mine workers have been waiting for Tshiamiso Trust services to commence so that they can access compensation that they may qualify for and today’s agreement means they can now lodge their claims and complete the medical assessment required to determine their eligibility for compensation. This is about restoring dignity and delivering on the promises made to the men and families who built the mining industry,” he said.

Kwinda added that the collaboration with the NSSA and the Government of Zimbabwe, will bring these services to the doorstep since most of the beneficiaries were of advanced age.

NSSA CEO, Dr Charles Shava said Zimbabwe is home to many who spent their working lives in South Africa’s mines and returned home with illnesses that changed their futures.

“Through this collaboration, we are ensuring that those who qualify can now access the compensation due to them, closer to where they live. NSSA remains committed to working with regional partners like Tshiamiso Trust to expand social security and strengthen cross-border protection for our workers,” said Dr Shava.

The facility is for all ex-mineworkers who carried out risk work at one of the qualifying gold mines between 12 March 1965 and 10 December 2019. Living mineworkers must have permanent lung impairment from silicosis or TB that they contracted while doing risk work at these mines.

If the mineworker did less than five years of risk work they will need to pay R1,900 for the Benefit Medical Examination (BME), which will be paid back to them if they have an eligible claim.

Those who did more than five years of qualifying risk work will receive a free BME.

For deceased mineworkers, there must either be evidence that they died from work-related TB within a year of leaving the mine if it’s a TB claim. They also have to provide evidence that they had silicosis if the mineworker died between 1 January 2008 and 10 December 2019.