Former Zimbabwean mineworkers who contracted silicosis or work-related tuberculosis while employed in South African gold mines can now lodge claims for compensation locally, following the official launch of Tshiamiso Trust services in Zimbabwe.
The development comes after the Tshiamiso Trust signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Zimbabwe and the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), formalizing cooperation to assist eligible claimants and their families.
The initiative marks a long-awaited milestone for thousands of Zimbabwean ex-mineworkers who have lived for years with lung disease after working in South Africa’s gold mines between 1965 and 2019.
Under the new agreement, Baines Occupational Health Services will provide both claim lodgement and Benefit Medical Examination (BME) services from clinics in Harare, Gweru, and Bulawayo, beginning in November 2025.
“This moment represents the realization of a promise made to the men and families who built the mining industry,” said Dr. Munyadziwa Kwinda, Chief Executive Officer of the Tshiamiso Trust.
“Thousands of Zimbabwean ex-mineworkers have been waiting for these services to begin so they can finally access the compensation they may qualify for. This is about restoring dignity and justice.”
Dr. Charles Shava, Chief Executive Officer of NSSA, described the partnership as a step toward regional social protection.
“Zimbabwe is home to many who spent their working lives in South Africa’s mines and returned home with illnesses that changed their futures,” he said.
“Through this collaboration, we are ensuring that those who qualify can now access their compensation closer to where they live.”
Eligible claimants must have performed “risk work” at a qualifying South African gold mine during the period covered by the settlement.
They can now submit claims, confirm eligibility, or update their information through Baines clinics or the Tshiamiso Trust’s call and WhatsApp lines.
The Trust cautioned claimants to avoid fraudsters and unofficial intermediaries. All legitimate services are provided free of charge, except for a small BME fee applicable to some claimants.
The Tshiamiso Trust was established to implement a landmark settlement between six mining companies African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony Gold, Sibanye Stillwater, and Gold Fields and attorneys representing affected mineworkers.
The launch of services in Zimbabwe marks a new chapter in the region’s response to one of Southern Africa’s longest-running occupational health crises, offering long-overdue redress to those who sacrificed their health in the mines that powered an industry.
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