By Revesai Mevetera
Harare, Zimbabwe – Former mine workers from various Southern African countries, known as ex-Wenela mine workers, are eagerly awaiting their entitled benefits after years of struggle and legal battles. These individuals, who toiled in South African gold mines between 12 March 1965 and 10 December 2019, have recently seen a glimmer of hope through the establishment of The Tshiamiso Trust. However, the Zimbabwean government’s slow response has left the ex-Wenela mine workers in limbo.
The Tshiamiso Trust was created to provide compensation to gold mine workers who contracted Tuberculosis (TB) or Silicosis during their employment in South African gold mines within specific timeframes. The landmark settlement, amounting to an unprecedented R5 billion (Rand), was reached through negotiations between six South African mining companies: African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony, and Sibanye-Stillwater, and their affiliates. The settlement was approved by a full Bench of the South African Gauteng High Court on 26 July 2019 and became unconditional on 10 December 2019.
While most governments promptly facilitated the payment process for their respective ex-Wenela mine workers, the Zimbabwean government has been sluggish in its response. On 13 December 2022, the Tshiamiso Trust, acting through the South African government, provided the necessary documents to the Zimbabwean government to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a crucial step in disbursing the benefits to the Zimbabwean ex-Wenela mine workers. However, the Zimbabwean government has failed to take action, leaving the former workers in a state of frustration and uncertainty.
In a recent meeting held last Saturday in Harare, government officials assured the ex-Wenela mine workers that they would urgently address the matter and report back within two weeks. The former workers expressed their concerns and stressed on the urgent need for compensation, as many of them suffer from the debilitating effects of TB or Silicosis, which have severely impacted their health and quality of life.
The delay in the Zimbabwean government’s response has sparked widespread criticism and condemnation from Labour rights activists and the affected ex-Wenela mine workers themselves. They argue that the government has a moral and legal obligation to ensure that its citizens receive the compensation they rightfully deserve.
