Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) Field Officer Rachel Jambo has called upon the government through its parent ministers to put in place mechanisms to allow women participation in decision-making processes so that their critical role in development is not overlooked.
She made the remarks in Arda Transau on Tuesday during commemorations to mark the International Day of Rural Women organised by CNRG in conjunction with ZIDAWU.
“On this International Day of Rural Women, we pay tribute to the women of Arda Transau, Marange, and Penhalonga who have fought to protect their communities’ food supply from droughts brought on by climate change, environmental damage from mining operations and tree-cutting, and contamination of water supplies upstream.
“In their endeavor to guarantee food and nutrition security, women’s access to community land is a topic of discussion that this platform aims to strengthen. We demand that the competent agencies and the government as a whole guarantee that women are included in all decision-making processes and have the capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change.,” said Jambo.
CNRG has over the years raised concerns that women are usually left behind when it comes to benefiting from natural resource extraction in their areas, yet they are the ones who are the most affected by the extraction of mineral wealth around them.
The majority of communities in areas like Marange where diamonds were discovered still have nothing to show for the million-dollar exploration of natural resources there. Some community members there were displaced and relocated to Arda Transau where there are undesirable living conditions.
Women continue to face a rift of challenges due to these relocations which affects their livelihoods as they are the ones who carry the burden to look after the children as well as demanding chores like fetching water and firewood.
“Mining companies and civil society in Zimbabwe should prioritize gender equality and address the specific needs and concerns of women affected by mining activities. This includes ensuring their participation in decision-making processes, improving access to education and health services, providing skills training and economic opportunities, and implementing measures to prevent and address gender-based violence that comes with mining,” said Jambo.
She stressed that one approach to solve the problem for women is for them to be at the forefront in influencing broad policy and decision-making on mining-induced relocations and climate change initiatives among others.
“Government must include women in commitments to prioritize value addition and beneficiation of the natural resources extracted in their areas which would involve processing these minerals locally, creating jobs and increasing revenue to fund sustainable development,” said Jambo, adding:
“As women, we should be at the centre stage of all the initiatives to push for policy reforms so that our concerns are prioritized as we are the most affected by mining-induced relocations and climate change. This can thus ensure we benefit.”