African Women In Mining Empowerment Trust (AWOMETrust) has encouraged women to not only seek employment in the small-scale and artisanal mining sector (ASM) but to invest to contribute to the sector’s growth and development.
Rudairo Mapuranga
The Trust is aiming at liberating women miners and stakeholders to achieve their full potential in mining to empower communities and contribute to the country’s vision 2030 where the mining sector through the National Development Strategy-1 (NDS_1) is expected to become a US$12 billion industry by 2023 with the ASM contributing one-third of the sum.
“Our mission is to support women to achieve their full potential, encourage and facilitate their active involvement in mining business Harnessing their economic power in extracting and processing minerals, supplying mining chemicals and equipment, food and SHE services,” AWOMETrust said.
AWOMETrust believes that gender inequality in the mining sector is caused by the lack of women participation in the sector therefore empowering more women to participate in mining will have a positive effect on equality in the mining industry.
“Unequal participation of women and men in the economy and society is caused by gender inequalities. Achieving gender equality is a critical element to prevent gender-based violence and to promote a safe working environment & decent work for women,” the Trust said.
On the last day of 2021, the Trust was in Mberengwa with gold and chrome women miners, promoting women’s participation in the mineral value chain and economic development promoting the buttressing that when women are working in a safe environment they can reach their full potential and contribute to the growth of the economy.
On the same day, Women miners practically learned the gold extraction and processing at Silverriver milling centre, a woman-owned mining company in Mberengwa in the Trust’s hope to inspire improvement in women’s participation, production and growth in the mining business.
AWOME trust prominent members include Zvishavane miner, Sophia Takuva.