WATCH: Growing calls for inclusion and protection of marginalised groups in mining
Judith Phiri Business Reporter
CALLS for the inclusion and protection of marginalised groups in mining are growing louder as women, persons with disabilities and youth continue to face challenges in the sector.
The marginalised groups continue facing challenges that include abuse, violence, lack of capital and machinery and discrimination among others.
This was revealed during a joint Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development and Thematic Committee on Gender and Development fact-finding visit and public hearing in Gwanda District, Matabeleland South Province on Monday.
In an interview at Mthandazo Women Miners Association Trust, Thematic Committee on Gender and Development chairperson, Senator Sisasenkosi Ndebele said it was critical to tackle challenges being faced by marginalised groups in the sector.
“Some of the challenges highlighted include lack of resources and equipment to use which are hindering their productivity. These groups also face discrimination from men in the sector as most of the work under men and do not have their own claims,” she said.
“Another key challenge is attacks these marginalised groups are faced with. We heard stories of machete gangs that attack women, persons with disabilities and youth in mining. There issues of harassment and sexual abuse as well among all sorts of intimidation.”
She said they were going to engage the Ministries of Mines and Mining Development as well as Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to come up with solutions that can assist marginalised groups in mining and ensure they are protected security wise.
Senator Ndebele said access to resources such as machinery and equipment was critical to boost production of marginalised groups who were living from hand to mouth due to incapacitation.
“There are people who are trying to earn a living from mining, but due to lack of resources and less security they are not able to be fully productive at these mines and some of them end up being forfeited.”
Mthandazo Women Miners Association Trust founder, Mrs Sithembile Ndlovu said attaining claims for women was a challenge.
“Most women are working on tributes, unaware of what percentage should be taken from them. This has left a lot of women exposed to unfair disputes and fruitless labour.
“Women not having their own claims has been a great challenge because they cannot directly take the gold to fidelity on their own, the owner has to do it leaving them with no record of their input at the bank,” she said.
“As an association we have also been trying to get claims for our women but it has been proving to be difficult as we are being offered dry unproductive land with no traces. We have about 30 women, 11 youth and two persons with disabilities under us.”
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