MSU Mining Student in pursuit of curbing mining accidents

What a man can do, a girl can do it better, the saying has proven true for  Midlands State University (MSU) metallurgical mining student Tanyaradzwa Makotore in partnership with Young Miners Foundation (YMF) and the MSU faculty of engineering and geosciences who managed to launch a mining safety campaign with the objective of educating small-scale miners on how to curb mining accidents from occurring.

Shantel  Tyne Chisango

Miss Makotore told Mining Zimbabwe that the surge in mining accidents prior-year drove her into capacitating miners with education through safety awareness campaigns.

“Reading about all the casualties that were recorded especially during the end of last year drove me into mobilizing a team that assists in helping miners to be knowledgeable realizing that most of the mine accidents victim are youths.”

She further added that youths are opting to mine as it is considered a fast way to make money in dire times.

Makotore pointed out that making this vision tangible has been quite challenging because of the lack of funding in most of the requirements considering that the team comprises small-scale miners.

The best way that these safety campaigns can be a success is through having mobile training truck, a vehicle fitted with teaching equipment that can conduct training in areas viable to roads.

Having managed to launch the safety campaign, Miss Makotore said it is not easy working in a male-dominated industry for she has to work extra hard to prove that she is able to achieve anything despite the stereotypes towards women in the industry.

“As a woman, it’s hard because this is a male-dominated industry and I have to do more to prove my worth and capabilities so that I am deemed competent.”

The government can offer funding towards this initiative as it is really a matter of emergency that needs to be addressed as soon as possible, said Tanyaradzwa.

Tanyaradzwa Makotore is a part 3.2 student at MSU who is also an advocate for Human Immune Virus (HIV) prevention amongst adolescent girls and young women_@ShantelTyne