Women's Economic Empowerment through Small-Scale Mining in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The mining industry in Zimbabwe has traditionally been male-dominated, with women largely excluded from meaningful economic participation. While recent government initiatives, such as sponsoring women in small-scale mining syndicates, have marked some progress, significant gaps persist in achieving gender parity and promoting women's economic independence in Zimbabwe's mineral extraction sector. These disparities continue to limit women’s full participation and empowerment. This study explores the empowerment of women through small-scale mining, identifying both challenges and opportunities. Guided by the Women's Empowerment Framework, the study investigates equitable access to essential resources, equal voice in decision-making forums, awareness of rights, and provision of basic services. To gather insights, key informant interviews were conducted with thirty female small-scale miners from all ten provinces of Zimbabwe. The findings reveal notable progress in accessing funding, credit, and partial financial control. However, persistent barriers remain, especially regarding access to information, training, and leadership roles. Most participants reported violations of their rights, limited access to basic services, and a lack of agency in production activities. This contribution highlights the need for specialized strategies to mitigate these challenges and promote sustainable empowerment for women in the small-scale mining sector in Zimbabwe. Stakeholders must prioritize women's financial autonomy and participation. To advance these goals: i. The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development should formulate and implement inclusive policies and programs that strengthen women's economic empowerment. ii. The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development must review and revise existing regulations to tackle the specific hurdles women miners face. iii. The Zimbabwe School of Mines should provide training programs tailored to the needs of women miners. iv. Civil society organizations, such as the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, should advocate for policy reform and deliver capacity-building initiatives to confront discriminatory social and cultural norms.