ZMF distributes contraceptives to Norton ASM
Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) through its secretary for Semi Precious and gemstones Mr Privelage Moyo, has distributed contraceptives to the Norton mining community in an effort to create awareness and protect Artisanal Miners from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Rudairo Mapuranga
Artisanal miners popularly known as “Makorokoza” are infamously known for behaving carelessly, especially with the ladies of the night which has led to a number of them succumbing due to STIs.
According to Moyo, the distribution of condoms was done to make sure that artisanal miners are healthy as the country heads towards the US$12 billion mining Industry.
“The purpose is to protect our miners who cannot easily access condoms, which are now in short supply country-wide. We sourced the contraceptives to make it easy for our miners to get them. As ZMF we stepped up our effort in sourcing through the social health department and make it available to our miners who are the engine of the mining sector. We are trying to make sure that every miner has access to safe social health. Since our government has a target of US$12 billion through mining, we cannot reach the target without the workforce, hence it is our duty as leaders to ensure that the journey is well protected and our workforce is very healthy. These workers are pioneers in the ASM sector hence the knowledge and skills they have, need to be passed on to the next generation whilst they are still alive,” Moyo said.
Mr Chapfuwa Banda a miner in Norton applauded ZMF for embarking on the idea to promote the health of artisanal miners as the miners are living under a huge health risk.
“We are very happy that ZMF remembers us and we urge them to continue distributing these condoms to protect miners from STIs,” he said.
In 2018 National Aids Council (NAC) provincial manager David Nyamurera said artisanal miners are at a high risk of spreading HIV and STIs as a result of low-risk perception.
“Key drivers of the epidemic in the province include having multiple concurrent sexual partners and this includes sex work, incorrect and inconsistent use of condoms, unequal gender relations resulting in Gender Based Violence (GBV) and child marriages. It is kind of a vicious cycle also low-risk perception and intergenerational sexual relations.
“Indeed artisanal miners are at high risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV and other STIs because of their vulnerability. When they get money after their hard work they tend to prioritise leisure and joy, this is where the issue of low-risk perception comes in,” he said.
High-risk sexual behaviour is frequent among small-scale miners owing to the excessive drug abuse that accompanies their operational activities. “ It is common knowledge that ‘Makorokozas’ lead a reckless life of serious drug abuse, alcohol and careless sexual practices with little or no fear of death hence you find they are rarely shocked with reports of HIV prevalent rates.