Harare, 07 March 2025
On this International Women’s Day (IWD), the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) joins in celebrating the strength, resilience, and contributions of women in Zimbabwe, particularly those affected by extractive industries. This year’s theme : Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress , resonates deeply with our work in advocating for environmental justice and protecting the rights of communities impacted by mining.
Women living in mining-affected areas face some of the harshest socio-economic and environmental challenges. The destruction of land and water sources due to mining disproportionately affects women, who bear the primary responsibility for securing water, food, and firewood for their families.
Many women in communities like Penhalonga, Marange, Shurugwi, Mutoko, Bikita, and Hwange also endure health risks from pollution, increased gender-based violence (GBV), and economic marginalization due to the male-dominated nature of the mining sector. The proliferation of GBV and violence in general in mining areas is a cause for concern, as women are the most affected as this scourge rises.
We have also noted the discrimination of women in the mining sector, as males dominate the workforce, with the women that are employed facing grueling working conditions. Our research work on the impact of Chinese investments in the mining sector has also unearthed rampant sexual harassment of women. The persistent wage disparity between equally qualified women and men remains a significant issue in the sector, worsening the existing socio-economic burden on women.
Further, the entrenchment of patriarchal norms has also resulted in the limited participation of women in the artisanal and small-scale sectors, which have become a livelihood for many. Such retrogressive beliefs not only leave women at the periphery of the mining sector but also extend existing inequalities. These inequalities also exist at a time when climate change uncertainties are threatening low-income communities in the global south. Women bear the brunt of these impacts, including the burden of unpaid care work that exacerbates their socio-economic vulnerabilities, limits their economic opportunities, and perpetuates gender inequality.
As we commemorate this day, we call for urgent reforms to ensure that women’s rights are protected in mining-affected communities. We therefore recommend, the following:
- An end to environmental destruction that forces women to walk long distances to fetch clean water and access arable land.
- Accountability from mining companies and investors to respect community rights and provide viable livelihoods for women.
- Economic empowerment programs that enable women to participate meaningfully in decision-making and benefit from natural resources.
- Stronger legal protections against gender-based violence and exploitation in mining areas.
True progress cannot be achieved while women in mining-affected communities continue to suffer the brunt of extractivism, which caters to the whims of corporations and so-called investors. On this IWD, as CNRG, we reaffirm our commitment to amplifying the voices of these women and advocating for policies that prioritize their well-being and rights.
A just and sustainable future is only possible when women are protected, empowered, and included in decision-making at all levels.