Beneath the earth where Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth lies, women are digging not just for survival, but for dignity, recognition, and control over their livelihoods.
Speaking at a gathering held in Harare on Wednesday, scores of women miners from across Zimbabwe representing provinces rich in gold, chrome, and gemstones came together to share their lived realities under the Zimbabwe Association of Women in Mining Associations (ZAWIMA) banner.
What emerged was a sobering account of exploitation, exclusion, and resilience in a sector that continues to sideline them despite their growing presence.
Diana Kanyemba from Mashonaland Central raised concerns of sexual abuse and how foreign mining owners are mistreating them.
“We are being pushed out of our own land. Women and and girls are being sexually abused, the areas are now full of mixed colored babies because these foreign miners seem to have more power than us villagers, ” she emotionally said.
One of the most pressing concerns raised was the increasing encroachment by foreign nationals, into mining claims traditionally worked by local women.“We are being pushed out,” another miner said. “They come with machinery, with power, and suddenly the land we have worked for years is no longer ours.”
Women described how these incursions are not only displacing them but also exposing them to sexual harassment and abuse, often in spaces where power dynamics are heavily skewed against them.
A recurring theme was the lack of ownership of mining shafts among women. Without legally registered or fully controlled claims, many are forced into unfair partnerships with established mining companies, including large players in the mining industry.
Instead of empowerment, these arrangements often deepen inequality.“We rent shafts as tributaries, we do all the work, we pay for everythingfrom equipment to regulatory fees like EMA and ZIMRA but at the end of the day, they take up to 40%,” one woman from Mhondoro Ngezi explained.
For many, this model leaves them trapped in a cycle where they carry the financial risk but reap minimal rewards.
Beyond profit-sharing, women miners highlighted the heavy financial burden of compliance. Licensing, environmental permits, and taxation administered by institutions such as the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) are often too costly and complex for small-scale operators.
Without adequate support or simplified systems, many women are pushed into informal operations, increasing their vulnerability to exploitation and legal risks.
In some cases, women reported working under harsh conditions in operations run by foreign investors, particularly in gold mining.
Getrude Chimanikire, the Acting Chairperson for ZAWIMA urged women to work together, saying if women unite they become a strong force for development.
Mines deputy minster engineer Fred Moyo who graced the occasion gave his word to the women promising that he will look into all their grievances and make sure that they are resolved.
“There is need to investigate all that and we need to work together so that we achieve sustainable mining,” he said urging women to support each other in their work.
He also said that thisere should be legal compliance in mining and that women mine responsibly to make sure that the community is safe and the environment is protected.
