New CNRG research highlights the growing social, economic and environmental pressures facing women in mining-affected communities.
Mining remains central to Zimbabwe’s economy, but new research by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), in partnership with the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC), with support from the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Cape Town, shows that the benefits of extraction are not always matched by the realities experienced by communities.
The study, which engaged 48 women across mining-affected communities in Zvishavane, found that mining is contributing to the loss of agricultural land, pressure on water sources, disruption of livelihoods and increased household vulnerability.
Women reported that environmental degradation has made it harder to farm, raise livestock and access safe water. The impacts are compounded by the additional unpaid care and household responsibilities that women carry.
The research also identifies significant gender gaps in mining governance. Women reported limited participation in consultations, exclusion from compensation processes, inadequate access to information and weak mechanisms for raising and resolving grievances. Reports of sexual harassment and exploitation, particularly in artisanal mining spaces, further expose women to heightened vulnerability.
A key concern emerging from the study is the gap between formal governance processes and lived realities. While institutions point to environmental assessments, inspections and consultation procedures, communities continue to experience weak enforcement and limited opportunities to influence decisions affecting their land and livelihoods.
Yet women are not simply victims of these impacts. Across Zvishavane, they are building resilience through savings groups, water monitoring initiatives, women’s mining networks and community advocacy.
The research calls for gender-responsive mining governance that strengthens environmental monitoring, makes consultation meaningful, ensures transparent and equitable compensation, improves access to information and gives women a stronger voice in decisions affecting their communities.
Key message
Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth must not come at the expense of the women and communities living closest to extraction. Mining governance must move beyond procedural compliance towards meaningful participation, environmental justice and gender equality.
Read the full research report:
Impact of Mining on Women’s Livelihoods in Zvishavane, Midlands Province
Conducted by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance in partnership with the Zimbabwe Gender Commission, with support from the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Cape Town.