malvernmugadzikwa
Tanyaradzwa Rusike
ZIMBABWEANS who contracted respiratory diseases whilst working in gold mines in South Africa from the 1960s to the 1980s could start receiving their payouts from next month, as the organisation responsible for facilitating payments is engaging local service providers to make essential medical assessments on beneficiaries.
Indications are that at least 1 000 miners who worked under the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association (Wenela) are set to benefit.
Tshiamiso Trust, an organisation that was set up after workers won a class action lawsuit in the South African High Court to handle the compensation process, said they had started sourcing local service providers to gather the required information that will pave the way for the compensation process.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Tshiamiso Trust chief executive officer Dr Munyadziwa Kwinda said progress had been made towards payment of the ex-miners.
“Once service providers have been identified and established by the end of October, we expect the process to start in November,” he said.
“In other countries like Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini, more than 19 000 ex-miners have been paid by Tshiamiso Trust.
“Although in Zimbabwe there is yet to be any payment, the key progress made so far are the extensive discussions. We have now almost concluded the review of a memorandum of understanding which started in January 2023 and is now set to be signed very soon.
“As you know, Tshiamiso Trust is a foreign entity and for it to operate in any other country, it has to get permission from the respective government. So, getting that permission from our Government is the biggest progress so far.”
Beneficiaries, Dr Kwinda said, would be paid depending on the level at which they suffered from respiratory diseases.
“Tshiamiso Trust was established after a R5 billion court settlement of 2018 ruled in favour of the ex-miners, out of which, so far, about R1,7 billion has been paid out, according to Tshiamiso Trust,” he said.
“An ex-miner, if found to be eligible, is guaranteed to get between 10 000 rand and R250 000. From Zimbabwe, there are at least 20 000 ex-miners, of which not all will benefit because of the eligibility criteria.
“For example, an ex-miner might have worked in one of the mines that formed part of the class action, but if he has not contracted one of the lung diseases, he will not benefit from Tshiamiso Trust.”
He said the trust was looking for service providers that will ensure that the former mine workers and their families had access to the support they deserved.
“Zimbabwe has long been a focal point for our compensation efforts.
“We are excited to announce that we are now commencing the process of sourcing local service providers to establish crucial services in the country,” said Dr Kwinda.
“These services will ensure that ex-Wenela mine workers and their families have access to the support they deserve, streamlining the claims process and providing essential medical assessments. The establishment of these services is key to the Trust being able to provide access to compensation.”
The Wenela workers were Southern African migrant labourers who worked in South Africa during the late 19th century to mid-20th century.
They were recruited by the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association, which brought them from countries such as Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, Eswatini and Zimbabwe.
The migrants worked under harsh conditions, with little pay and little to no access to education or healthcare.
Zimbabwe was a major contributor to South African labour.
Most of the migrants worked underground in gold mines.
Online Reporter