In this article, Stanley Mugomeza examines the impacts of mining activities on women in the resource-rich Midlands region of Zimbabwe and explores their struggles to cope with climate change. It is the depiction of a small print of climate change, exposing the unseen suffering of women in rural areas.
Despite boasting of having one of the best gender-sensitive policies in the world, women in Zimbabwe continue to bear the brunt of climate change impacts. The impacts have further been exacerbated if one resides in remote unstructured mining communities in Zimbabwe.
In Zimbabwe, the impact of climate change is increasingly felt, particularly among women who are at the forefront of the struggle against the mining industry. As mining activities expand, they threaten not only the environment but also the livelihoods of local communities, especially women who rely on agriculture and natural resources.
This is the plight of women in mining communities, which struggle to adapt to the impacts of climate change. It is a common trend of impoverishment linking communities across the country. Current food insecurity struggles driven by climate change, in particular, the biting El-induced drought have left millions on the brink.
The Weekly has previously reported that civic organizations like the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) advocate for judicious management of revenue generated from the lucrative mining sector, Zimbabwe’s largest foreign currency earner, to avert socio-economic crises like hunger.
It is a notion shared by communities and women in Manhize, Chikomba Rural District Council of Mashonaland East, and others in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe where many hopes hinged on mining companies. When the Dinson Mining Company set up shop, the economic activities introduced sparked hope and enthusiasm among many women in and around the Manhize Resettlement area. The two communities connected by Dinson held a strong belief that steel mining would significantly improve the lives of the local population. Unfortunately, the expected transformation has instead led to feelings of anger and despair, presenting numerous challenges for residents, especially women.
The historical context of Zimbabwe’s mining industry suggests that it may be more beneficial to refrain from mining altogether than to embark on initiatives that yield no positive outcomes after the mining activities cease. This perspective has gained further support considering climate change and the need for sustainable mining practices.
In 1990, the Zimbabwe Geological Survey conducted a comprehensive assessment and identified over 500 distinct deposits of base metals and industrial minerals throughout the country (UNDP, 2009). This wealth of resources highlights the potential for mining in Zimbabwe, yet it also underscores the importance of ensuring that such initiatives are sustainable and economically viable.
However, sustainable development of the mining sector has not been curtailed by underinvestment in mineral exploitation and production, but by the negation of responsible mining practices. Historically, in Zimbabwe, mining has spawned urbanization, economic growth, and prosperity. The spin-offs from mining manifest in more than 20 mining towns in the country. Between 1996 and 2001, however, about 37 mining companies closed their operation. Many of these once vibrant mining towns degenerated into ghost towns, closures which have adversely affected communities that have traditionally relied on the industry for their livelihoods.
The role of women in mining and mining communities is often overlooked, even though their contributions are significant. This is especially true in regions like the mineral-rich Great Dyke belt of Zimbabwe, where mining activities is having detrimental effects on their livelihoods.
Understanding the relationship between women and mining necessitates a deeper look at how mining operations are affecting them. These unique challenges and opportunities deserve attention. Women impacted by mining activities may experience negative consequences such as displacement, loss of agricultural land, and health issues due to environmental degradation. It disrupts their traditional roles and responsibilities, placing further burdens on livelihoods.
Women impacted by mining activities may experience negative consequences such as displacement, loss of agricultural land, and health issues due to environmental degradation. These impacts disrupt their traditional roles and responsibilities, further complicating their situation. These impacts of mining, and specifically the disproportionate negative impacts on women change their domestic roles.
Disposal of untreated sewage into surface waters in Manhize has arisen to become the order of the day leaving communities exposed to health hazards because of the unsustainable mining practices. Munyati River has been severely polluted by sewerage and suspected chemical effluent discharge, leaving downstream communities that have become consumers of sewage effluent from the Disco steel mining company. This pollution has also put the river at risk of eutrophication. With the rising drought, flooding, and continuous heat waves this further exacerbates the plight of women in all aspects of their daily lives.
One of the major environmental issues resulting from this pollution is eutrophication, a process where water bodies become overly enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae. This can deplete oxygen levels in the water, harming fish, and other aquatic organisms, and disrupting the entire ecosystem.
Additionally, the region is grappling with the impacts of climate change, including rising drought conditions, flooding, and persistent heat waves. These environmental stressors have compounded the difficulties faced by women- who often bear the brunt of water scarcity and pollution in their daily lives.
Women in the community are tasked with collecting water for their families, and when water sources are contaminated, it poses a direct threat to their health and well-being. The added burden of managing household needs during extreme weather events further complicates their lives, making it essential to address climate change impacts with both pollution and the broader environmental challenges.