adminRunesu Gwidi Herald Correspondent
Women in small scale mining in Masvingo have so far received more than $18 000 in loans from Government to boost their operations and help steer economic growth while eradicating poverty.
The funds are being channelled to women from the province through the Women Development Fund.
Provincial development officer in the Ministry of Women and Youth Affairs Mr Joseph Mupinga recently said his ministry has so far disbursed funds to three small scale women mining groups across the province.
He was speaking during a tour of Rama Gold Claim near Clipsham, south of Masvingo City.
Mr Mupinga said projects run by small scale miners in the province namely Ngundu Gold Claim (Chivi), Rama Gold Mining Syndicate (Masvingo) and Rutenga Women’s Quarry Mining (Mwenezi) had each received $6 000 to boost their operations. The money is for equipment purchases and covering operational costs, among other needs.
“Masvingo province has a total number of 33 small scale women-run mining syndicates and Government gives loans to at least three of them annually under the Women Development Fund,’’ said Mr Mupinga.
“The idea is to free the society from the bondage of gender disparity since mining is widely regarded as being a male-dominated sector, while women are being stereotyped as being housewives who are only responsible for household chores such as cooking and washing.’’
He said only those already in the mining business would benefit from the Women Development Fund.
“We do not authorise funding for people who have not shown any interest in the business. Again the loan applicants should meet certain requirements. For instance, the Ministry will not authorise a loan for someone who has no mining certificate from the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, a site plan for the mining claim and a registration certificate from the Environmental Agency (EMA),’’ said Mr Mupinga.
The provincial development officer singled out shortage of ore mills and water sources as some of the challenges obtaining at mining claims run by women in Masvingo province.
Mr Mupinga said his ministry was also negotiating assistance for women miners from local authorities and the District Development Fund by requesting them to sink boreholes to avail portable water.
Other women in the province were challenged to embrace mining to economically transform their lives.
Director of Rama Mining Syndicate Mrs Retina Semu said they used part of the $6 000 loan they received to purchase a M12 Hammer gold mill and a water pump which she said had significantly improved viability at the mine.
The syndicate has a workforce of eight people, all of them youths drawn from the surrounding community.
Online Reporter