By Neo Kolane
The Lesotho Ex-Miners Association has announced that Basotho who are found to have been infected with silicosis and other respiratory illnesses will get compensated.
This emerged at a press conference held by the association on Friday this week.
The secretary-general of the association Rantšo Mantsi said the ex-miners body is working hand in hand with a company called Global Med.
He revealed that the service started on July 19 at TEBA in Maseru where the workers were screened in line with the Benefit Medical Examination.
Mantsi revelead that people who will be compensated are those who worked at the mines from March 1965 until December 2019.
“The Ex-Miners Association and Global Med are notifying all ex-miners who mined gold to report to all the places where they will be advised to go.
“If a mineworker worked in any of these mines for more than five years, they are entitled to a free medical benefit examination to determine whether they have silicosis or TB as defined in the trust deed. If they do, they will be eligible for compensation.
“The amount of compensation depends on the nature of the eligible claimant’s illness,” Mantši said.
