Women in mining seek assistance

Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
WOMEN in mining in Matabeleland South province have appealed to the government to support them in the form of equipment so that they can boost their mining production. Speaking during the Zanu-PF Women’s League Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) conference held in Gwanda over the weekend, the party’s provincial women’s league chairperson Alice Dube said access to mining machinery remained a major challenge constraining women’s mining operations.

The conference which ran under the theme “Building a strong nation by empowering women through Zim Asset” was graced by Vice-President Joice Mujuru who was the guest of honour.

“As women in this province we are engaged in various projects that include mining, farming and cross border trading. The government should support us with mining equipment for us to boost production. Women in mining are working under difficult conditions due to lack of mining equipment,” she said.

The province is rich in minerals but small-scale miners are failing to exploit the minerals due to lack of resourcess.
Women’s League national secretary for legal affairs Senator Tambudzani Mohadi shared the same sentiments with Dube saying women miners were in dire need of assistance.

She said women miners had managed to mobilise resources and bought a compressor but still faced a myriad of challenges.
“Women have made own efforts and have done a lot but it is not enough.

“This one compressor is overwhelmed since women in the mining business are now a big group. Women also need stamp mills,” said Sen Mohadi.
Some women have started potato growing projects but lack inputs.

“We want to see these women boosting production so that they are able to meet demand for potatoes not only in this province but even beyond. Some are into goat production and are planning to export goat meat so that they can realise more,” added Sen Mohadi.

Mujuru also heard that women in the province needed a factory to process amacimbi as part of value addition.