By Staff Reporter
The Tshiamiso Trust, established to provide compensation to former mineworkers suffering permanent lung impairment from silicosis or work-related TB, is seeking qualified service providers in Zimbabwe to assist claimants in the country.
Following productive discussions with the Zimbabwean government, the Tshiamiso Trust is poised to begin processing compensation claims for ex-Wenela mineworkers. A memorandum of nderstanding (MOU) has been extensively discussed, with a final draft currently under review and expected to be signed soon, paving the way for these claims to be processed.
Tshiamiso Trust CEO, Dr Munyadziwa Kwinda, commented, “Zimbabwe has long been a focal point for our compensation efforts. We’re excited to announce that we are now commencing the process of sourcing local service providers to establish crucial services in the country. These services will ensure that ex-Wenela mineworkers and their families have access to the support they deserve, streamlining the claims process and providing essential medical assessments. The establishment of these services is key to the Trust being able to provide access to compensation through the Trust.”
The Tshiamiso Trust was established to give effect to the settlement agreement reached between six mining companies and claimant attorneys in the historic silicosis and TB class action. The companies are African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, Harmony Gold, Sibanye Stillwater and Gold Fields. The Trust started operations in 2021 and, through its footprint in South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique and Eswatini, has paid 19,000 beneficiaries so far, to the value of R1.77 billion (over $100 million USD).
- To ensure that Zimbabwean claimants have access to the support they deserve, the Trust is looking for service providers to offer:
- Claim Lodgment Facilities: Providing a centralized location for claimants to submit documents, undergo biometric verification, and receive guidance on the claims process.
- Benefit Medical Examinations (BMEs): Conducting thorough medical assessments to determine eligibility for compensation based on the severity of lung impairment caused by high exposure to silica dust. Qualified medical service providers with experience in diagnosing occupational lung diseases are encouraged to submit proposals. The Trust has set a deadline of 18 October 2004 for proposal submissions.
In addition to the administrative requirements associated with the lodgement process, the medical service providers need to have the necessary qualifications, registration and experience in the diagnosis of occupational lung diseases. The facilities, with specific staffing and technological requirements, would need to be equipped to conduct digital chest x-rays, vital screening and physical examinations, lungfunction/spirometry tests, and issue medical reports. The full details and requirements can be viewed in the Request for Proposals document, available on the Tshiamiso Trust website.
“It is crucial that we find the correct service providers. There is a thorough accreditation, onboarding and quality control process to ensure that the medical examinations are done accurately and meet the standards described in the Trust Deed. We have set an ambitious procurement timeline so that services can be enabled as quickly as possible,” Dr Kwinda concludes.
