Maternal health care crucial in mining, mobilize women participation’

TANZANIA: Global reserves of metals and minerals are mined for profit and then used in jewelry-making, industrial applications and investments as the list continues.

In the line, since the beginning of civilization, clay, stones, and metals found close to the earth’s surface were used to make tools, weapons, vessels, and goods for wealth and trade.

As the mining industry will flourish in a country, chances are that it will come with its impacts to the environment and people living in the locality.

For that matter, it is important that Mining Act(s) should be enforced and balanced in such a way that investors practice what is required including gender balance in their operations.

Currently, the Act only states the need to promote females’ participation in mining activities, but in reality, investors still prefer men in their operations and this sidelines women’s enrolments.

As a result, only few women brave the journey to venture into the mining sector, but still end up not being put in positions, where they are in decision making circles.

“We therefore call for the Mining Act(s) review to bind investors,” said Legal and Human Rights Center (LHRC) Legal Officer, Ms Joyce Komanya, during the ‘Extractive Sector Gender Symposium.

The gathering was organized by the local non- governmental organization- HakiRasilimali ahead of the World Women’s Day celebrations climaxed today (8th).

Having reviewed the Act, the government should also make sure that law implementers in the mining sector are familiar with the content so that they easily share with women at the grassroots in attempts to mobilize full women participation.

The symposium participants also urged the working conditions to be improved especially for expectants mothers and their newborns-a move that would be also attracting majority females to like the industry.

Improvements should involve setting special breastfeeding rooms to guarantee the mothers and their newborns’ safety, commented the Social Lead for East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), Ms Fatuma Msumi.

Equally, she stressed that the current working environment for pregnant women or those who have delivered be overhauled, because it is unfriendly and discouraging.

Presenting a topic on ‘Gender and Extractives: Assessing Progress and Challenges’, the Research and Policy Analyst for HakiRasilimali, Francis Mkasiwa, narrated a story of how some findings show low women participation in mining industry.

According to him, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in the financial year 2020/21 in the mining and quarrying sector (inclusive of natural gas) contributed 218,353 direct employments, where 176,815 out of that was men population and 41,538 by females.

Furthermore, the Tanzania Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Report  of 2023 revealed that over 90 percent of the workers from the reconciled companies are men, with less than 10 percent being women.

Often, he added, women find themselves relegated to the margins of the mining sector, particularly in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM).

According to him, in Tanzania women in ASM are marginalized, where participation becomes not just a career choice, but a means of survival amidst socio-economic risks.

This prompts a crucial inquiry into enhancing the working environment in ASM, safeguarding women’s safety, dignity, and empowerment.

He further presented that an assessment of the state of ASM sector by the World Bank, last year, reveals a multitude of challenges faced by women engaged in it (ASM).

One significant barrier identified is the gender-blindness of mining laws, which fail to address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of women miners.

This lack of legal protections brings about discrimination against women, limiting their access to resources, education, and economic opportunities within the sector.

The study further reveals that immediate attention is required in capacity development and financial support to enable government officials to advance gender equality in ASM.

Moreover, access to maternal health, sexual health, and reproductive care near mine sites and communities is limited, exacerbating risks such as child marriage, particularly affecting girls.

Again, women in ASM communities are disproportionately affected by gender-based violence, with limited access to essential health services and support systems.

One of the most pressing issues highlighted is the prevalence of sexual exploitation and abuse experienced by women engaged in mineral extraction.

Additionally, societal stereotypes regarding physical strength and women’s traditional roles hinder their access to higher-paying work within ASM communities.

Following such situation, HakiRasilimali recommended the revise of the composition of the Mining Commission by amending the Mining Act to ensure gender balance within the mining commission.

This should entail redefining the criteria for membership to explicitly include gender representation, ensuring that women hold a significant portion of positions within the Commission.

Review and engender the local content requirements or targets on employment at the mining companies to ensure the gender gap is narrowed.

Companies and local government authorities should design empowerment programmes through Corporate Social Responsibilities to support women in ASM operations and service providers.

However, the symposium participants at the same time commended the Tanzanian government efforts to fill the gender gap in mining through different approaches, including the issuance of mining licenses to women.

About 40 licenses have been made available in the past  three years, affirmed Tawoma Chief Secretary, Ms  Salma Kundi.

Again, equipment for building mineral processing, mostly pebbles, worth over 63m/- were made available to Tanzania Women Miners Association (Tawoma) members in October, last year.

Assistant Mining Commissioner for ASM in the Ministry of Minerals, Mr Francis Mihayo, advised the women to invest in the line for finance capacity buliding, because the sector provides varieties of avenues.

“Some people start even with small hair cut saloon in mining, accumulating the capital and after sometime become mineral buyers for exportation.

“The problem is that some women lack confidence and become assertive, while the mining policy of 2009- section number 6.2 clearly states on promotion of women participation and prohibit child labor,” he said.

The National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC) Representatives, Mr Oswald Karadis, presented that the Council is ware of capital lack challenge, a reason why it sets up special centers, country wide, for capacity building and loans disbursement to especially women and youth.

He cited the one stop center available in Kahama District of Shinyanga region, through which about 7bn-/ has been disbursed in 2022/23 financial year, as loans.

NEEC also promotes small industries to help the Tanzanians be technologically creative, hence, grab opportunities in mining where modern machines are highly demanded to serve especially ASMs.