Joblessness pushes Matobo women into artisanal mining

Lack of employment opportunities in rural Matobo is pushing women into artisanal mining as they struggle to support their families, pay school fees and meet basic household needs.

The situation has also highlighted the financial difficulties facing rural families, with some parents struggling to keep their children in school because they cannot afford fees and other educational costs.

Speaking to CITE, Gulathi Community Development Trust chairperson Rafaelo Ndlovu, who is based in Matobo, said women were increasingly turning to artisanal mining because there were few formal employment opportunities in rural communities.

“Women are going to the mines because there are very few employment opportunities in rural areas. For many of them, mining has become one of the ways they can earn money and support their families,” Ndlovu said.

Ndlovu said women were also carrying much of the responsibility for providing for children, particularly in households where income earned by men was not always directed towards family needs.

“Some women have families and children who depend on them, so they have to find ways of putting food on the table and paying school fees. Some are widowers and don’t have a man in their homes who can help them generate income. Mining becomes an option because there are very few other income-generating opportunities available,” he said.

He said irresponsible spending by some men was adding pressure on women who were already struggling to provide for their families.

“We also have situations where men are working or making money, but instead of using that money to support their families, some of them spend it on alcohol. The women are then expected to find other ways of supporting the children,” Ndlovu said.

Ndlovu said the impact of financial hardship could also be seen in schools, where many children were registered but only a small number of parents managed to pay their fees.

“You can have many children registered at a school, but when it comes to paying school fees, you may find that only a few have actually paid. School fees will be US$30 per term, but you will find that only eight people would have paid,” he said.

Nokhulunga Moyo, a Matobo resident, said women were often forced to consider artisanal mining because they had families to support but lacked access to formal employment.

She said women needed more opportunities to earn a living within their communities instead of relying on informal activities.

“For many women, going to the mines is not about choosing mining over other work. It is about having something that can bring money home when there are no employment opportunities in the community,” Moyo said.

She said a lack of employment was leaving families with few options and forcing women to take whatever opportunities were available to them.

“Lack of employment is making it difficult for families to survive in rural areas. When a woman cannot find a job, she will look at whatever opportunity is available to make sure that her children are taken care of,” Moyo said.

Moyo said the creation of sustainable livelihood projects could give women alternatives to mining and help improve household incomes.

“We need more opportunities for women in rural areas so that they can earn money without having to depend on mining. If there were businesses, jobs and projects that could provide a reliable income, women would have more choices. For a woman it is very dangerous to work at a mine but they have no other choice,” she said.

She said women already had skills that could be developed into viable businesses if they were given the necessary support and opportunities.

“Women have skills and they can work, but they need opportunities. What is important is to create projects that allow women to make a living and support their families from within their communities,” Moyo said.

The Gulathi Community Development Trust has been supporting women in Matobo through initiatives aimed at creating alternative livelihoods, including arts and crafts, agriculture, clothing and furniture production.

The trust’s programmes are intended to help women develop income-generating activities within their communities and reduce their dependence on limited employment opportunities and informal work.