Women in mining empowered

WOMEN in the mining sector have hailed President Mnangagwa’s empowerment policies for unlocking unprecedented opportunities in Zimbabwe’s extractive industry, saying the Second Republic’s inclusive development agenda has broken down longstanding barriers that once restricted their participation in the traditionally male-dominated sector.

They credit the Government’s targeted interventions with expanding access to mining claims, equipment, financing and technical training.

These have enabled more women to venture into mining, create jobs, improve household incomes and contribute meaningfully to national economic growth.

Coupled with policies aimed at increasing indigenous participation in key sectors of the economy, the Second Republic has scored major milestones in capacitating locals to meaningfully contribute to national economic development and the attainment of Vision 2030.

A major part of the Second Republic’s broader empowerment agenda, the reserved sector policy seeks to ensure Zimbabweans derive maximum benefit from the country’s natural resources while increasing local participation in strategic sectors of the economy.

This comes in the wake of the recent Government’s decision to reserve small-scale gold mining for locals, a move expected to increase participation by indigenous Zimbabweans, including women, in one of the country’s most strategic economic sectors.

The women were speaking during a recent sensitisation campaign held in Filabusi, Matabeleland South province, conducted under the ‘planetGold Zimbabwe Programme’, which seeks to reduce mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining while promoting sustainable, mercury-free technologies.

Zimbabwe Artisanal and Small-Scale Women Miners Association (ZASWMA) chairperson and technical advisor for the Insiza Women in Mining Association, Mrs Kundayi Chikonzo-Midzi, said female miners were beginning to reap the benefits of Government policies that promote inclusion and economic empowerment.

She applauded the Second Republic for creating an enabling environment that was allowing women to participate meaningfully in mining and other productive sectors.

“We appreciate the enabling environment created under President Mnangagwa’s Second Republic, which has opened doors for women to participate meaningfully in mining and other key sectors of the economy,” she said.

“The Government’s open-door policy has allowed development partners and stakeholders to introduce innovative projects and pilot programmes that directly benefit women miners.

“Such interventions are helping women to improve production, enhance safety standards and contribute more effectively to national economic development.”

Technical advisor for the Insiza Women in Mining Association, Ms Barbara Njanjari, said the Second Republic has transformed the operating environment for female miners by making it easier for them to acquire mining claims and participate in the sector.

“The Second Republic has created opportunities for women to participate meaningfully in the mining sector. Today, women can easily acquire mining claims by obtaining prospecting licences and approaching the relevant mining offices,” she said.

“As women, we are now being given opportunities to own and operate mining claims, something that was not always easy in the past.”

Ms Njanjari said women were now actively participating in mining value chains and contributing towards the achievement of national development goals.

“The National Development Strategy and Vision 2030 are creating a conducive environment for women to thrive in business and mining. President Mnangagwa has empowered women to participate freely in economic activities, and his message that Zimbabwe is open for business is benefiting us,” she said.

“We are actively involved in mining and, most importantly, we are operating in what was traditionally regarded as a male-dominated industry without major challenges because we have the support of the Government.

“The Ministry of Women’s Affairs continues to work closely with us and provide the support we need. With that backing, women in mining are making significant strides.”

Amazon Mining Cluster chairlady Mrs Elizabeth Ndlovu, who operates in Filabusi, said Government policies have positively transformed the lives of female miners.

“We thank the Government led by President Mnangagwa. He has supported and uplifted our lives,” she said.

“We also applaud this Government-led initiative by planetGOLD Zimbabwe to teach us how to safely handle mercury while introducing mercury-free gold recovery technologies.”

Mrs Ndlovu said women were increasingly becoming active participants in the mining sector and were now able to generate income, create employment and contribute to local economic development.

She said empowerment initiatives being championed by the Second Republic were helping women move from the periphery to the centre of economic production.

Ms Sikhanyisiwe Nkomo of New Eclipse Mine in Shangani echoed similar sentiments, saying female miners regarded themselves as key stakeholders in Zimbabwe’s development trajectory.

“It’s a clear demonstration that as women we are part of the Vision 2030 agenda and we want to thank President Mnangagwa for allowing women to access opportunities in mining,” she said.

“The opportunities that have been opened for women in mining are helping to unlock economic empowerment, improve household incomes and uplift communities.”

Mrs Nkomo said women were no longer spectators in the mining industry but active contributors to national development.

Speaking at the same event, Insiza District Development Officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Mr Nhlanhla Magagula, said the Government remained committed to supporting women’s participation in strategic economic sectors.

“What took place today is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to empower women and champion their participation in economic activities, particularly in the mining sector,” he said.

“This initiative is in line with the Women’s Economic Empowerment Framework, which seeks to create safe and enabling working environments for women while supporting them to break into key economic sectors such as mining.”

Mr Magagula said the ministry had successfully mobilised women in Insiza District to participate in mining activities and was now focusing on improving their productivity and working conditions.

“The sensitisation programme on the dangers of mercury use in gold mining came at an opportune time. We have women operating in both formal and informal mining, and we expect the knowledge and skills imparted during this programme to be shared widely, reaching every woman involved in gold mining,” he said.

“The planned mercury-free gold processing plant is a major development for our district. We believe it will benefit not only women miners but also men, thereby promoting inclusivity and gender balance within the mining sector.

“These efforts are fully aligned with the National Development Strategy and Vision 2030. Under President Mnangagwa’s Second Republic, women are being given greater opportunities to participate in economic activities and contribute meaningfully to national development.

“With continued support from Government and partners such as planetGOLD Zimbabwe, we are confident that women miners will play an increasingly important role in achieving the country’s gold production targets and broader economic growth objectives.”

Under the programme, about 7 500 men and women miners in 11 districts are expected to benefit from interventions aimed at reducing mercury use by 4,85 tonnes while increasing access to sustainable, traceable and environmentally friendly gold production technologies.

For many female miners, the initiative represents more than just an environmental intervention — it is further evidence of a changing mining landscape in which women are increasingly taking their place as entrepreneurs, employers and contributors to Zimbabwe’s economic transformation under the Second Republic.

Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the planetGold Zimbabwe Programme is being implemented by IMPACT in partnership with the Ministry of

Mines and Mining Development and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).