A new chapter has opened for thousands of former Zimbabwean mineworkers who developed lung diseases while working in South Africa’s gold mines, following the official launch of Tshiamiso Trust services in Zimbabwe.
The initiative, a partnership between the Tshiamiso Trust and the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), will allow eligible ex-mineworkers and their dependents to lodge compensation claims and complete medical assessments locally, without having to travel across borders.
The launch coincided with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Trust and the Government of Zimbabwe, formalising cooperation aimed at improving access to long-overdue compensation for affected workers.
Following a competitive selection process, Baines Occupational Health Services has been appointed as the accredited service provider to manage both claim lodgement and Benefit Medical Examinations (BMEs) in Harare, Bulawayo, and Gweru, starting in November 2025.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Munyadziwa Kwinda, CEO of the Tshiamiso Trust, described the occasion as a landmark moment for Zimbabwean mineworkers and their families. “We are honoured to mark this moment in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe and NSSA. Thousands of Zimbabwean ex-mineworkers have been waiting for Tshiamiso Trust services to commence so they can access compensation that they may qualify for. Today’s agreement means they can now lodge claims and complete the medical assessments required to determine eligibility for compensation,” said Dr Kwinda. “This is about restoring dignity and delivering on the promise made to the men and families who built the mining industry.”
Dr Kwinda noted that the Trust has already paid out nearly R2.4 billion to over 25,000 former mineworkers and their families in South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Botswana.
From November, Zimbabwean claimants will be able to access services at Baines Occupational Health clinics in Harare, Bulawayo, and Gweru. Eligible claimants include former mineworkers who worked in qualifying South African gold mines between 12 March 1965 and 10 December 2019, those with permanent lung impairment from silicosis or work-related tuberculosis (TB), and dependents of deceased mineworkers who died due to silicosis or TB under qualifying conditions.
While the process is free of charge, claimants with less than five years of risk work must pay a R1,900 fee for the BME, which will be refunded if the claim is approved. Those with five or more years of qualifying work receive free medical examinations.
NSSA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Charles Shava, welcomed the partnership, calling it an important milestone in strengthening regional social protection systems. “Zimbabwe is home to 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 where they live,” said Dr Shava. “NSSA remains committed to working with regional partners like Tshiamiso Trust to expand social security and strengthen cross-border protection for our workers.”
The Tshiamiso Trust cautioned claimants against individuals or organisations claiming they can fast-track applications or charge fees for services. Only the Tshiamiso Trust and its officially accredited service providers are authorised to process claims.
The Tshiamiso Trust was established following a historic class action settlement between six major gold mining companies—African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony Gold, Sibanye Stillwater, and Gold Fields—and claimant attorneys, to compensate mineworkers suffering from silicosis and TB contracted in South African mines. Through partnerships such as this one with NSSA, the Trust continues to extend its reach, ensuring that those who gave their health and strength to the mining industry finally receive the recognition and redress they deserve.