Tshiamiso Trust: A Beacon of Hope for Ex-Wenela Miners
By Desire Tshuma
In a significant development, the Tshiamiso Trust has partnered with Zimbabwe’s National Social Security Authority (NSSA) to expedite compensation claims for former Wenela miners. This collaboration aims to ensure that those who spent years working in South Africa’s mines receive the support they deserve.
“We are committed to bringing justice to these brave men who were exposed to hazardous conditions,” says Tshiamiso Trust CEO Dr Munyadziwa Kwinda. “Through our partnership with NSSA, we are streamlining the claims process and making it easier for ex-miners to access compensation.”
NSSA Chief Executive Officer , Dr Charles Shava welcomed the partnership, describing it as an important step in social protection for former mineworkers and their families.
” Zimbabwe is home for 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 they live . NSSA remains committed to working with regional partners like Tshiamiso Trust to expand society security and strengthen cross border protection of our workers ” Dr Shava said .
For many ex-Wenela miners, this partnership brings renewed hope. “I’ve been struggling to make ends meet since I returned from the mines,” says 68 -year-old former miner, Mr. Rexona Mudenhe. Mr Mudenhe worked for Loraine gold mine as a diesel locomotive driver working underground for two years six months. “I lost my health, but I never lost hope. Now, I feel like justice is finally within reach.”
Following a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process, Baines Occupational Health Services was appointment in November 2024 as the accredited service provider to conduct both lodgement and Benefit Medical Examination (BME) services. Clinics in Harare , Gweru and Bulawayo will begin assisting claimants from November 2025.
“We are working tirelessly to reach all eligible claimants,” says the trust representative. ” To lodge a claim , minewokers must have carried out risk work at one of the qualifying gold mines during the qualifying periods between 12 March 1965 and 10 December 2019. Living mine workers must have permanent lung impairment from silicosis or TB that they contracted while doing risk work at these mines”
” If the mine worker did less than 5 years of risk work they will need to pay R1900 (South African Rand for the Benefit Medical Examination ( BME) which will be paid back to them if they have an eligible claim. Those who did more than 5 years of qualifying risk work will recieve a free BME. For deceased mine workers there must be evidence that they died from work related TB within a year of leaving the mine if it’s a TB claim, or evidence that they had silicosis (if the minewoker died between 1 January 2008 and 10 December 2019) or died from silicosis.
As Zimbabwe continues to grapple with the legacy of migrant labor, the Tshiamiso Trust and NSSA partnership serves as a beacon of hope for those who have been waiting for justice.
TOP PIC: Left : NSSA CEO Dr Shava right Tshiamiso Trust CEO Dr Munyadziwa Kwinda
