In a landmark development that promises to bring long-awaited relief and justice to thousands of Zimbabwean families, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Africa’s Tshiamiso Trust on Wednesday. The agreement will pave the way for medical examinations and compensation payments to ex-Wenela workers who contracted silicosis and tuberculosis while working in South African gold mines decades ago.
The signing of the MoU was confirmed by Mr. Clemence Vusani, Director for Labour in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, during the ministry’s ongoing strategic planning workshop. He described the move as a vital milestone in restoring dignity to Zimbabweans who endured harsh working conditions in foreign mines during the colonial and post-colonial eras.
“NSSA will be signing the MoU with Tshiamiso Trust tomorrow,” Vusani announced. “Those with relatives suffering from diseases acquired while working in Wenela will be advised where to take them for medical testing. All necessary information will be disseminated through various media channels.”
The agreement establishes a legal and operational framework for the Tshiamiso Trust to oversee claims processing, medical assessments, and compensation disbursement for eligible former miners and their dependents. This ensures that the compensation rollout is carried out transparently and efficiently, with proper oversight and accountability.
At least 1,000 Zimbabweans who were employed in South Africa’s gold mining sector between the 1960s and 1980s under the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association (Wenela) are expected to benefit from this historic initiative. Many of these workers suffered long-term respiratory diseases like silicosis and tuberculosis due to prolonged exposure to silica dust in unsafe mining environments.
According to the agreement, compensation packages will range between R10,000 and R500,000 per person, depending on the severity of the illness and the terms of the settlement. The payout also extends to dependents of deceased workers who qualify under the scheme.
The compensation covers those who worked for major mining companies including Anglo American, Gold Fields, Harmony Gold, Sibanye-Stillwater, and others, between March 12, 1965 and December 10, 2019. These companies were part of the landmark class action settlement that led to the establishment of the Tshiamiso Trust.
Formed in 2020 after a historic judgment by South Africa’s High Court, the Tshiamiso Trust was mandated to process and compensate mineworkers and their families across southern Africa who suffered from occupational lung diseases caused by unsafe mining practices. The Trust has already paid out over R1 billion to more than 11,000 claimants from countries including Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Eswatini, and Zimbabwe is now next in line to benefit.
The forthcoming MoU signing marks a significant step in correcting decades of injustice and neglect faced by migrant mineworkers. For many families, this initiative represents not only financial relief but also long-overdue recognition of the sacrifices made by their loved ones in building one of Africa’s most profitable industries.
Human rights advocates and labour unions have hailed the partnership as a victory for social justice and regional cooperation. It also underscores a renewed commitment by both Zimbabwe and South Africa to protect the welfare of workers and address the lingering effects of labour exploitation in the mining sector.
For the families of the affected miners, tomorrow’s signing ceremony is more than an administrative formality it is the culmination of years of struggle, advocacy, and hope. After decades of suffering in silence, they may finally receive the justice, dignity, and compensation they have long been promised.
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