All-female African mine carves out sustainable future
Mining companies working with villagers in harsh environments can occasionally create opportunities for growth and empowerment. And the small band of women digging pits an hour’s drive from the nondescript town of Karoi in Zimbabwe, may be one such example. They are leading an economic revolution at Zimbaqua — which the company claims is Africa’s first sustainable all-female mine.
Rumbidzai Gwinji, 34, is in charge here, as the mine’s manager. She is one of the 35 women miners at Zimbaqua — founded and funded by Iver Rosenkrantz, 44 and Patrick Tendayi Zindoga, 41, along with two like-minded Danish friends. “We are changing the narrative and proving that even one of the most male-dominated industries can be championed by women,” says Rosenkrantz. “These women are happy and supportive of each other and work towards a common goal with no short gains in focus.”
Gwinji and her co-workers have the two founders to thank for their economic independence. Danish-born Rosenkrantz and Zimbabwe-born Zindoga had spent a year buying stones from artisanal miners in Karoi and the surrounding areas. They say they got to know the people in the community. “We saw, for ourselves, just how much these women struggled — there are no job opportunities here.”
Elaborating on Zimbaqua’s open-pit mining, Rosenkrantz says: “In comparison to tunnel mining, the way we mine is very low impact and much safer.” Discussing the environmental impacts, he explains: “We do not use chemicals and merely dig holes that we cover up afterwards. We support the community in the best way possible.”
Poised to launch a jewellery line, using aquamarines from the mine, Rosenkrantz is exploring myriad ways to make the mine profitable.
“On the anvil, once budget constraints are sorted, is the Zimbaqua Vision project and community centre that would offer training in gem cutting, jewellery making, arts, crafts, paediatric clinic, pre-school, and accommodation for volunteers.”
This story originally appeared on: Financial Times - Author:Tax Cognition
