Push for gender mainstreaming in mining sector
What you need to know:
- Women miners in Africa have diversified their revenue streams to survive the economic crisis presented by Covid-19.
- In Turkana County, the female gold miners have been sensitised on adopting agro-businesses.
- Women miners to continue push for gender mainstreaming in the sector across the continent.
- Investing in intra-continental trade for mining products would stabilise the sector.
- President of Awima asks women running mining firms, in leadership positions within sector to be deliberate in employing women.
Women miners in Africa have diversified their revenue streams to survive the economic crisis presented by Covid-19.
During a webinar on Voices of Africa Women in Mining, AC Zenon chief executive officer Amina Tahiru said she has ventured into catering, electrical and plumbing services for survival as she awaits normalcy in business to resume.
"I am a survivor of Covid-19 because I have been able to transfer skills learnt in the mining industry to cope with current situation and earn a living," she said during the June 4, webinar organised by Association of Women in Mining in Africa (Awima).
"Today, I grow my own vegetables and sell the surplus. I offer electrical and plumbing services in my neighbourhood. I produce from my own kitchen a famous Ghanaian pepper sauce called Shito for local market," added the CEO of AC Zenon, a gold mining firm in Ghana.
ECONOMIC FALLOUT
In Turkana County, women gold miners have been sensitised on adopting agro-businesses as an alternative source of income in the wake of economic fallout caused by the pandemic.
Director for Mineral Resources in Turkana, Stella Opakas, said it is important for the gold mining women to be innovative in generating an income to sustain their lives during this period.
She, however, urged governments to partner with women in the extractive industry to steer best practices aimed at improving their livelihoods and bolstering local economies.
"We have association of women in extractives in Kenya, which helps promote role of women in the extractive industry and they have helped Turkana County train women on how they can benefit from the extractive sector," she said.
President of Women in Mining in Namibia, Zenzi Awases, said the women miners will continue to push for gender mainstreaming in the sector across the continent.
She said women were yet to fully reap from the sector's economic benefits due to lack of gender responsive legislations and socio-cultural constraints.
"For gender inclusivity in the sector to become a reality, it requires a paradigm shift," she said.
"The system still holds onto archaic way of thinking...policies are also archaic. What's important is we continue to raise awareness and voice issues of concern. We don't want to be seen as female geologists but geologists who can better the continent," she added.
EMPLOY WOMEN
Managing Director for Gubhani Exploration in South Africa, Lindi Nakedi, said investing in intra-continental trade for mining products would stabilise the sector, hence assure women of economic opportunities.
"I don't know why we are constantly thinking about the outside market instead of trading within then out," she said.
President of Awima Georgette Barnes, urged women to support fellow women's extractive activities by local sourcing of their jewellery and interior decorations.
"Buy jewellery from our own in the continent instead of flying to Dubai to buy it," she urged.
She also called on the women running mining firms and in leadership positions within the sector, to be deliberate in employing women.
"Let’s be responsible in supporting women in the mining sector. Let's employ them and use their services," she urged.
