Harare, (New Ziana) –Zimbabwean former miners who worked in South African mines have appealed to President Mnangagwa to intervene in the processes that will enable them secure their pensions as well as compensation for injuries sustained and diseases contracted during their employment.
The workers, under the banner Witwatersrand Native Labour Association (Wenela), were among those who were stationed at various mines in the Orange Free State and the Transvaal.
Those who fell ill in the line of duty would be repatriated back to their native countries, including those from Mozambique, Malawi, Swaziland and Botswana.
Ex-Wenela Miners Association of Zimbabwe chairman David Nyawasha told the media on Friday that it has been more than two years since they were promised compensation, which has not materialised, hence their appeal for President Mnangagwa to intervene.
“We are engaging the South African and Zimbabwean governments in our efforts to get the compensation that we deserve. We want to see the issue settled once and for all, and President Mnangagwa’s intervention in his capacity as the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) chairman will be key,” he said.
“Our members who fell ill at the mines were repatriated in a capitalist method of avoiding to compensate them. Whenever we engage the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, we are told to wait. That has not been fair to us as some of our members are dying of respiratory diseases that they contracted when they worked at the mines,” he added.
Nyawasha said apart from the administrative hurdles, the other challenges that they have been facing are legal and the effects of COVID-19.
“Conditions that need the involvement of certain paperwork are stiff as there are members who had their contracts abruptly terminated. Some even no longer have copies of their contracts, and their records of services cannot be traced. When processing claims, affidavits are not considered,” he said.
According to Nyawasha, the Tshiamiso Trust which was created to expedite the process, has not been helpful to their cause as the conditions that it set are difficult to meet.
He said former miners who claim from the Trust should undergo a Benefit Medical Examination (BME) for their claim to be processed and it is mandatory for the examination to be done by a service provider accredited to the Trust.
The BME includes an X-ray of lungs, a lung infection test and a general check-up.
Mining companies that are party to the Tshiamiso Trust include Sibanye-Stillwater, Anglo-Gold Ashanti, Africa Rainbow Minerals, Harmony, Gold Fields and Anglo-American.
New Ziana
