Against police brutality Zim – women miners shine

Nhau Mangirazi

MASH CENTRAL – Being a female artisanal miner in Zimbabwe is certainly not for the faint-hearted. Blessing Hungwe reckons that any woman seeking to eke out a living through mining should be ready to face sexual abuse, collapsing shafts, hard labour and in some cases—not-so kind treatment from law enforcement agents.

As the economy continues to recover driven by mining; small scale mining has become a source of employment for many. For Hungwe, mining was not accidental. She started off as nine-year old girl involved in riverbed mining in Chikuti, North West of Harare.

After years of manoeuvring rough terrain all in search of the precious mineral, Hungwe still contends that the face of the mining sector requires a facelift.

Now she is in charge of the Zimbabwe Women in Mining and Mines Development Trust, an organisation which represents the interests of female miners in this capital intensive sector.

After going through a ‘bitter divorce’ she made a decision to take up mining as a full time occupation. But that came at a price.

“Getting divorced was the last thing I ever dreamt about but I had to face it. After such a social backstab, I had to move on and start a new life. I had to learn the hard way,” she says.

“I used to accompany my aunt during school holidays in Hurungwe and this was part of my childhood aspirations as a miner. After the divorce that came as a surprise I was ready to face the reality of life in mining.”

She then resettled in Nyakapunu mountains in Guruve in mid-2000 where she had to meet the daily needs of her family.

She said she would often walk for 50 kilometres on foot in the thick forests along the deep valleys in search of a gold el dorado.

“Mining has never been an easy task for women but I never gave up,” she added.

Violence against women

Hungwe has witnessed state sponsored brutality and violence on women.

“Mining is male dominated and women are vulnerable while some state agencies demand sexual favours. Some remain victims of sexual violence,” said Hungwe.

She added, “We have witnessed unacceptable abuse from police affecting women mining operations around the country. Few of us can stand the heat to be abused by those who must uphold the rule of law.’

Pushed to the wall

She narrated a sad story of a Guruve female miner who was forced to gave in to sexual demands from a senior police officer as ‘protection’ when she faced eviction from her mine claim.

“Although she had required documentation for her gold claim, police officers pushed her to the wall where a senior officer demanded sexual favours as protection. She had to give in,” Hungwe added.

“The  case is a clear testimony of how sexual abuse is rampant among women miners. It is perpetrated by state agencies. Majority are suffering in silence. She was dumped after the operations dwindled.”

Abuse condemned

Chief Supt Didmus Sakarombe of Minerals and Border Control Unit condemned abuse on women.

“Suspects must be brought to book. We condone any form of abuse and corruption among state security agencies. Report any of these suspects so that they can be dealt with according to law. We can act against such criminality by police officers who are not above the law,” said Sakarombe.

However, Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) chief executive officer Wellington Takavarasha said government should craft mining policy which is inclusive and spurs economic growth while shunning poor practices.

“Unfortunately, we have no good polices for administering small scale miners affecting women. Small scale miners contribute 65 per cent of national gold output,” he said.

Takavarasha added that unregistered miners are operating and Government does not want to develop the sector.

Nearly a million of the population benefitting directly or indirectly from small scale operations, he said.

No women benefit

Hungwe said women miners have not benefited anything from Government besides claims to empower women in mining sector.

“Majority of women face challenges to access financial assistance from Government through Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.  We need our voices to be heard in accessing the loans. There are no women voices to fight for us,” said Hungwe.

Nobhule Ncube a miner based in Bubi Matabeleland North province said documentation requirements from Environmental Management Agency and other state agencies is retarding progress.

“EMA demands are too much from besides facing financial challenges. Getting documents from EMA does not absolve us as small-scale miners,” said Ncube.

Women side-lined 

Hungwe said no women are getting Government support.

“Government has never availed financial support to women miners hence our calls for equal distribution. Women are side-lined,” noted Hungwe.

 “Women want to be involved but authorities must be accountable to us,” added Hungwe.

Hungwe defied odds as she managed to buy a compressor, a pump and a generator.

She drives a sleek four-wheel drive car.