Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Business Hub
The Zimbabwe Artisanal and Small-scale Women in Mining Association (ZAWIMA) has bemoaned the information gap affecting women miners, particularly in accessing geological data — a challenge that continues to hinder the growth of their mining operations.
This gap is further compounded by limited access to other essential information and resources such as mining rights, licences and technology — often due to discriminatory attitudes, inadequate legal frameworks and structural barriers, according to officials.
ZAWIMA member and Bindura-based miner, Ms Merencia Foromani, said the lack of information was one of the most critical challenges faced by women miners in rural and remote areas.
“Imagine a woman deep in Bubi or Mangwe districts — getting the requisite mining information is a huge challenge for them. A lot of information does not reach the grassroots, and many are lagging behind. Some do not even know about the Mines and Minerals Bill, 2025, which will replace the current Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05],” she said.
“Most women miners are also unaware of tax provisions and other mining-related developments. This is a serious issue because many are on the verge of losing their claims simply due to lack of information.”
She added that access to land remains another major challenge for women miners, with some losing their claims to investors without being fully informed.
“After some time, they are told their claims are no longer theirs because an investor has been granted a licence for that area,” she said.
Ms Foromani also highlighted access to finance as another major obstacle, noting that while many women were eager to mine, they lacked the capital and proper equipment to conduct mining operations responsibly.
“Unfortunately, the new Mines and Minerals Bill does not adequately address women’s rights in mining. It remains silent and gender-blind to women’s issues. The Bill does not clearly outline provisions that support women miners, apart from stating that they may be included in the membership of mining boards,” she said.
She said the Bill should clearly define how women will be integrated and supported in the mining sector, adding that the formalisation process for women miners was taking too long.
“Some women miners have applied for licences and have been waiting for more than 10 years for them to be issued. That is a major challenge,” she said.
Ms Foromani said ZAWIMA had also noted a lack of adequate medical facilities for women in mining areas, which she hoped would be addressed in the new legislation.
“As an organisation, we believe there are more opportunities for women in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector,” she said. “These include capacity building, access to innovative mining technologies and collaboration across the value chain — all of which can help us grow more sustainably and competitively.”
She said ZAWIMA would continue to engage policymakers, network with other industry players, share knowledge and contribute meaningfully to shaping the future of small-scale mining in Zimbabwe.
Ms Foromani reaffirmed the association’s commitment to ensuring that the voices of women miners are heard and represented in all decision-making spaces, while pushing for a more inclusive, sustainable and equitable artisanal and small-scale mining sector.
ZAWIMA is a grassroots organisation that supports women in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector by providing a platform for advocacy, skills development and networking. It aims to empower women to transition from extraction to value addition, improve safety standards, increase access to finance and technology, and strengthen women’s participation in policy and decision-making.
