By Savious Madanhire
The Parliamental Joint Portfolio Committee on Mines, Mining Development and Thematic Committee on Gender and Development has praised the management of Tebekwe Mine in Shurugwi for empowering the local community through giving female miners gold pits as well as employing them and its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
The joint committee on Thursday convened a public meeting at Tebekwe Mine to conduct an inquiry into the access of women, youths, and persons with disabilities to the mining value chain in the province.
The team toured the mine and was briefed on the mine’s operations, challenges, and contributions to the local economy. Sen Anna Shiri expressed her impression, saying, “I’m highly impressed with what I have seen here at Tebekwe Mine, we came as members of parliament on a fact-finding visit to see for ourselves if women are actively involved in Mining,” she said.
She noted challenges faced by women and persons with disabilities, such as a lack of machinery, but praised Tebekwe Mine for promoting women’s involvement.
“They are challenges faced by women in Mining and those living with disabilities, such as a lack of machinery, but here at Tebekwe mine, things are moving in order, and we have seen that women can do it.Dr Smelly Dube has shown us that they are brave women, so if women could get their claims, the country would move forward with everyone benefiting.”
Sen Shiri, who represents persons with disabilities in parliament, said the objective of these engagements is to identify barriers for women, youths, and persons with disabilities affecting their full participation in the Mining value chain.
The objectives of the engagements are as follows: to identify barriers for women, youths, and persons with disabilities affecting their full participation in the Mining value chain. To access the existing policies and support programs being implemented to ensure that women, youths, and persons with disabilities have opportunities to access mines and the mining value chain.
Lastly, to develop actionable legislative and policy recommendations and interventions that will enhance equal opportunities for women, youths, and persons with disabilities in the mining industry,” she said.
Furthermore, the committee aims to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by women and youths in mining across the province.
The mine employs 428 people is spearheaded by Dr Smelly Dube, Mine Manager, has been actively involved in various initiatives, including providing food hampers to the elderly, creating employment opportunities for youth and women, and hence supporting women and youth with mining pits.
These efforts have enabled the community to maintain a decent standard of living, and everyone is benefiting from the mine’s presence.
However, the community expressed their gratitude and appreciation for Tebakwe Mine’s efforts, praising the mine for its positive impact.
“We would like to thank Tebekwe mine for giving us pits to work on and all the support they give us to improve our lives,” said most of the community members in their comments.
Ambassador Dr Smelly Dube, who was present at the event, highlighted the mine’s commitment to its employees and the community.
” We have a job of social responsibility to the community, by helping out those struggling to pay fees, amongst many others.”
Dr Dube said, “We allocated 25 pits to the community people, in those, they are syndicates, so they are approximately 210 people benefiting from the pits. IDs and security have been provided to ensure the safety of community members working on the allocated pits, so that they won’t be threatened by artisanal miners around the area,”
During the discussion, participants raised several challenges faced by women and youth in mining, including a lack of mining claims, limited access to machinery, transportation and land occupation issues. Women expressed similar frustrations that most land is occupied by one person, and investors often exclude them from activities that could improve their lives.
The women also emphasized that they want to work for themselves, not just for others.
Surprisingly, the Ministry of Mines states that out of 9900 claims in Midlands Province 1,700 mining claims are owned by women, yet many women expressed that they don’t even have claims.
The stakeholders also highlighted the Ministry of Mines’ 20% loan allocation for women and youth, but lamented that they were unaware of this initiative until a representative presented it during the meeting.
“It’s frustrating to hear about loans and initiatives meant for us, yet we’re the last to know. How can we benefit if we’re not informed? We need more than just promises; we need action and support,” said one of the women during the discussion.
However, women and youths appealed to the committee and members of parliament to advocate for support to address these challenges and ensure that women and youth in mining benefit from initiatives meant to empower them.
