Venture into mining sector, women urged Deputy Minister Abigail Damasane
Deputy Minister Abigail Damasane

Deputy Minister Abigail Damasane

Oliver Kazunga, Senior Business Reporter
WOMEN should empower themselves by taking advantage of the existing investment opportunities in the country, a senior official has said.

Speaking during the Mine Entra expo in Bulawayo last week, Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Deputy Minister, Abigail Damasane urged women to venture into mining to promote gender equality.

“So many of us are allergic to some offices, policies and plans by institutions or Government. As you are gathered here someone is saying look at her she is favouring men. I am not, but I’m giving you weapons to face the men’s world, I should not be crying with you ” said Deputy Minister Damasane.

The women in mining breakfast meeting ran under the theme: “Exploring linkages in the mining value chain: Opportunities for women”.

Cde Damasane noted that mining was one of the sectors with a fast growth rate in Zimbabwe at 40 percent in the past five years.

Zimbabwe holds an estimated 26 500 million tonnes of mineral resources of which 10 500 million tonnes are potentially extractable. Against this background, Deputy Minister Damasane said several minerals in the country were yet to be explored and exploited.

“Some legislation and policies have led to the opening up of the mining sector to allow the entry of small-scale miners including women who are estimated to be in control of a 30 percent stake in the sector. In 2016, small scale miners produced 9 680 tonnes of the 21 439 tonnes of gold produced that year,” she said.

Deputy Minister Damasane said the mining sector in Zimbabwe has generally been shrouded in mystery as a sector for the whites, rich and powerful.

“This is because mining is associated with high capital investment, big machinery and underground activities. For women, the situation is labour and occupational segregation and lack of access to capital even for the most basic tools,” she said.

The Deputy Minister said reforms in the mining sector were not gender sensitive and thus women continued to be disadvantaged as they were still being discriminated against.

This year’s Mine Entra, which ended on Friday, attracted over 120 exhibitors up from 91 in 2016. — @okazunga

You Might Also Like

Comments