In what appears to be a first of its kind in Africa in a male-dominated industry like mining, Zimbabwe’s Zimbaqua mine is recruiting an all-female workforce.
The mine, which is located near Karoi, a town 200 km northwest of the capital Harare, is changing the lives of women in the region. providing relief to the plight of women in the region, most of which are unemployed.
The percentage of female employment as modeled by ILO estimate in Zimbabwe was reported at 1.891 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources.
“My family suffered a great deal before I joined the mine,” said Sylvia Mugova, a miner and mother of five. “My children were consistently suspended from school due to lack of fees. My husband does not work. We also take care of my mother-in-law. All I wanted was an opportunity to provide for my family, and mining has given me that.” Mugova said further.
“I no longer have to bother the father of my children because I am paying school fees for the two of my children who are in primary school,” said another female miner, Shupi Kabudura, 33, who became a miner after fleeing an abusive husband with her three children.
According to the Mine manager Rumbidzai Gwinji, “Zimbaqua is setting a new standard for mining. The project is elevating the community by providing solutions for women. The ladies no longer wait and hope that the husband will put a meal on the table. For single mothers, there is no better security than a reliable source of income. They can now take care of the children, send them to school and feed them. They are now stable financially,” she shared.