By Donald Nyarota.
MUTARE, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – Women in Chiadzwa have demanded to have a greater stake in the proposed consolidated diamond company by having an employment quota.
Speaking at the launch of an environmental complaints system for villagers by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), villagers said there was need to mainstream gender issues in the new consolidated mining company.
ZELA in collaboration with Action Aid Zimbabwe established the monitoring system under a project titled ‘Promoting the Protection of Environmental, Social, Economic and Cultural rights of Communities Living in Diamond Mining Areas of Eastern Zimbabwe.’
Villagers appealed to government to mainstream genders issues in their planned consolidation of diamond mining companies.
Facilitator of the Hotsprings’ Women Forum Mrs Jena said women wanted a reserved quota for employment in the consolidated mining company.
“We want to be involved in diamond mining because we have seen that women and men are affected differently by mining activities. So we want to have reserved spots for employment for us.
“In terms of the impact women suffer more as they bear the responsibility of primary care givers to our families and issues of water pollution have affected us because we now have walk long distances to fetch clean water,” she said.
“Even in the board of the consolidated mining company we need representation of women.”
ZELA researcher Nyaradzo Mutonhori said genders issues were central to sustainable extraction of resources as these activities affect women disproportionately.
Mutonhori said historical imbalances have largely relegated women from economic activities.
“Historically women have been sidelined form main economic activities and as ZELA through the Women’s Forums we are urging women to participate in mainstream economic activities.
“Representation of women issues in economic activities bode well for sustainability because women are affected disproportionately to men by mining activities hence the need for their involvement even from the top levels,” she said.
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