ZELA takes professional development of women up a notch

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20 August 2021

By Clarity Sibanda

The COVID-19 pandemic has continuously forced us to adjust, but we have ensured that we do not adjust in delivering our promise of providing capacity building, training, and awareness-raising among our different constituencies including women in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).

The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association and IMPACT through the Digging for Equality project have taken the professional development of women in ASM up a notch by enrolling 20 of them with the Zimbabwe School of Mines. Among several programs they will go through is one focusing on fundamentals in mining. This program is designed to enable women in mining to have a technical understanding of all the main stages in mining, covering aspects of exploration, geology, survey, mining and mineral processing and the general mining business economics.

Previous research projects have shown that sometimes, women lack the access and skills to perform more remunerated and status enhancing tasks in mine sites. Through the Digging for Equality project, the organisations aim to improve security, promote gender equality, and women’s empowerment in the ASM sector.

ZELA initiated this professional development program in 2020, with financial support from European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM). 14 women drawn from Mthandazo Women Miners Association were pioneers of the training. These are breaking the glass ceiling in their different spaces with Mthandazo Women Miners founder and Chairperson, Sithembile Ndlovu recently voted as Zimbabwe Miners Federation Matabeleland South Secretary for Women.

The Digging for Equality project is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada.

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