THE WEEKLY’s investigations have uncovered stark proof that the Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) has neglected victims of coal seam fires who are now piling pressure on the firm over compensation.
Coal seam fires refer to the burning of an outcrop or an underground coal seam. Because some coal seam fires are smouldering beneath the earth’s surface, they pose a serious threat to local inhabitants, wildlife and infrastructure.
In separate interviews conducted by THE WEEKLY in Hwange recently, it was discovered that many people especially children who fell victim to coal seam fires never received any form of assistance. Most of the coal seam fire accidents occurred in the Hwange Colliery Company Concession where most of its workers, ex-workers and locals live.
Gloria Tom, one of the victims, told The WEEKLY that Hwange Colliery totally ignored them as they never assisted with the payment of medical bills and compensation for the injuries.
“Hwange Colliery is entirely to blame for the fires; when my son was burnt, they never extended their hand to help with medication payments and general treatment costs. After the incident, the challenges were many since he required extensive medical attention due to the severity of the burns, some operational procedures required money, and I had to be hospitalized together with my son for two months which took my time and resources,” she said, adding:
“What truly bothered me was an article in the newspapers about Hwange Colliery making remarks to the effects that my son trespassed into a fenced area, despite the fact that the location was not barricaded. My son stumbled into the same area where another youngster was burnt and ultimately died. To date, my son’s life has changed; his peers laugh at his scars, he can’t walk without shoes for extended periods of time, and he can’t wear shoes for long periods of time.
“The company must compensate us. It’s not fair.”
Locals claim that Hwange Colliery Hospital has insufficient medication and limited expertise to deal with victims of coal seam fires. Despite being the sole hospital in the area and a growing number of people falling victim to coal seam fires, the hospital has not enhanced its capacity to assist the victims. Although the hospital provides free medical care to its employees, the offer is not comprehensive because patients must purchase medication from pharmacies.
Most victims of coal seam fires are children who fall victim while playing, herding livestock and coming from school.
According to Miriam Chuma, whose kid was also extensively injured by coal fires, the Colliery Company simply assisted with transportation to the hospital and never compensated her for the accident.
“When the accident happened I was at work, the boys where playing football and my son was running to pick the ball which had been kicked out of the road, what he didn’t know was there where underground fires that had started nearby. He accidentally fell in the fires and got his legs burnt, his shoes were all burnt and he had to be rushed to the hospital by a Colliery ambulance.
“All they provided at the hospital was a drip; I had to find help from my community to acquire the medication he needed because the Colliery was unable to help. A few employees from Colliery visited me in the hospital and made a promise that their superiors would come see me, but they never did up to today. That’s all I recall,” she said.
Chuma reiterated the need for Colliery company to compensate victims of coal seam fires.
“The Colliery bears complete responsibility for these incidents and owe us compensation. In addition to compensating victims, they should ensure that the fires are contained and, in certain cases, that the affected areas are barricaded,” said Chuma.