Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa-Mashonaland West Bureau
When Ms Auxillia Chidongo (30) and her husband separated nearly six years ago, she thought that was the end of her life.
With children to take care of, Ms Chidongo, who was used to getting almost everything on a silver platter from her husband, was now faced with an enormous task ahead of her.
Her marriage had irreparably broken down, despite relatives, friends and church members having tried their best for the couple to reconcile.
She never thought her next best companion would be the tools that she now uses in the sector where she found solace in 2020.
In a hammer, chisel, shovel and sieve, Ms Chidongo has found not only friends, but long-lost affection that she once shared with her now ex-husband.
Ms Auxillia Chidongo
While many of her age would have thought of the easiest ways of getting quick money to fend for their kids, Ms Chidongo valued her dignity and ventured into quarry mining.
She is among over 50 women who flock to the Destiny Quarry site on the outskirts of Chinhoyi every morning to unearth silica stones which they crush to desired sizes.
Ms Chidongo is part of women that are trying to revolutionise the mining industry through developmental minerals often used in construction.
The stones are highly sought after by people constructing houses and other properties.
As a daily routine, the women have developed stamina enough to carry them through to the next day.
They have developed bodies strong enough to meet the daily expectations of digging for the stones and crushing them.
They drink fresh milk which they claim cleanses their respiratory system as dust particles from the crushed stones threaten their health.
As social media becomes an integral part of day-to-day lives, the women have tried to use various platforms to market their product.
Having created groups to market the stones, the women say they still have a long way to outsmart middlemen whom they claim take away a huge chunk of their earnings.
Said Ms Chidongo, “I have managed to make a living out of this as a divorcee. I fend for all my four children from this activity.
“For the past four years, quarry mining has helped me to be back on my feet after having been dumped by my husband.”
However, middlemen have seen a loophole to make a killing from the women’s hard work. Within the past six months, the miners have lost at least 50 percent of their usual revenue as middlemen come “rob” them.
“We used to realise at least US$1 per wheelbarrow but this has since changed. Middlemen who usually come here with buyers arm-twist us to accept at most 50 cents per wheelbarrow which is paltry considering the labour intensive job,” she said.
For Faith Mbengani (Ms Bhaureni), the coming in of the middlemen has seen the ladies work for nothing.
Faith Mbengani
“As you can see, we are pounding the rocks using a mere hammer without any protective clothing. These silica stones can injure you if you are not careful.
“After labouring for long, one comes and dictates a price on us,” said the mother of 17-year-old twin boys.
The widow added that while she managed to take her sons through to the Ordinary Level, she believes the earnings had significantly gone low.
She hoped to raise enough from her activities to venture into other businesses knowing minerals are finite resources so that she will lead a sustainable life.
“Women should work hard using their hands. With how Zimbabwe is endowed with minerals, there is no reason for one to be a thigh vendor. I have tried alluvial gold mining but realised that it is not always that I get something, but with these development minerals, I am guaranteed of getting something at the end of the day,” she added.
Ms Liness Nziramasanga a mother of two who also takes care of her elder sister’s two kids, has started feeling the negative impact of the middlemen’s interference in her work.
“Business has been so low and down since last year. Instead of getting US$120 to US$150 per month, I am now getting at most US$60, and this has not been enough to cater for all my monthly needs. All is wiped out by rentals. This has been a good industry for most women in the town but is slowly dying,” she said.
The women believe if they get assistance to mine sustainably and market their product effectively, it will make a difference in their work.
They are also still raising enough to get operating licences from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and Chinhoyi Municipality.
Mrs Blessing Hungwe-Nharara, patron of the Zimbabwe Association of Women In Mining Associations (ZAWIMA), who also served as SADC regional leader for the African Women in Mining Association (AWIMA), said the women deserved to be assisted.
“Women are community builders. I encourage women in mining to grow interest in development and neglected minerals to change livelihoods, enhance shelter, food security and public infrastructure,” she said.
Mrs Hungwe-Nharara also encouraged the women to approach relevant government ministries to access funding. Government through Ministries of Women’s Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprise and Community Development, Mines and Mining Development and the Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training is supporting women and youths in mining and other sectors so they can boost income and improve their livelihoods.
