- Blessing Hungwe calls for stronger support for women in mining.
- Warns of health dangers from mercury use in artisanal gold mining.
- Urges inclusion of women in mining claims, supply chains, and corporate policies.
ZIMBABWEAN mining advocate Blessing Hungwe has urged both the government and industry to implement policies that uplift women in the mining sector, highlighting the structural barriers and health risks that female miners encounter.
Hungwe made these remarks during the Hope-Fay Public Lecture Series on women and mining, which took place on March 24, 2026.
She said that both public and private institutions have a crucial role to play in enhancing access and opportunities for women.
“What is it that the public sector and private sector must do to empower women and girls?” Hungwe asked.
As the patron of the Zimbabwe Association of Women in Mining Associations (ZAWIMA), she works to unite women’s mining groups to amplify their voices and participation in the industry.
Hungwe noted that ZAWIMA is dedicated to influencing corporate policies and practices that impact women miners.
“The focus is on public and private sector corporate policies and practices that we seek to influence,” she explained.
She cautioned that mining activities carry significant risks, especially for women and children involved in artisanal operations.
“For instance, the mercury used to extract gold can have severe health implications for pregnant women and may lead to birth defects,” she pointed out.
Health experts have long associated mercury exposure in small-scale gold mining with neurological damage and developmental risks, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Hungwe also encouraged women to leverage the provisions in Zimbabwe’s Mines and Minerals Act that facilitate tributary arrangements between large-scale mining companies and artisanal miners.
She mentioned that these arrangements can enhance access to mining claims and help formalise operations.
“Coexistence of large-scale mining and artisanal and small-scale mining is vital because most mining land is owned by large-scale miners,” she stated.
Hungwe called for increased involvement of women in mining supply chains, including procurement and service delivery.
“Women must have opportunities to supply goods and services in the mining sector,” she asserted.
