YAFM and Great Dyke TV are hosting the Women in Mining virtual conference on the 30th of April 2021. The conference will run on the radio station and on YAFM facebook page from 12 noon to 1pm under the theme ‘Confronting the challenges facing women miners’.
YAFM General Manager Tawanda Gudhlangah says the virtual conference is borne out of the realisation that women miners lack support and face a myriad of challenges in their mining ventures.
‘As part of women’s month celebration Great Dyke News 24 ran a series of interviews with women miners and it was apparent that they all face similar challenges that range from lack of financial support, cultural attitudes, stigmatisation, knowledge deficiency and low access to equipment.
“ It was not a long step forward from organizing the virtual conference when we found out women miners are crying out to be heard. As an integrated media house, we are here to amplify the voices of our listeners and stakeholders in the mining and agriculture value chains as they seek to find sustainable solutions to the challenges they face. So we are exercising our role as leaders in the provision of strategic stakeholder solutions for enhanced value,” said Gudhlangah.
Among the panelists is Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) Vice President Lindiwe Mpofu, Women’s Bank CEO Dr Mandas Marikanda, Advocate Tina Kadhau, a lawyer and miner, Chiedza Chipangura, the founder of Women Empowerment in Mining and Joyce Machiri from ZELA.
Mining is projected to contribute US$ 12 billion to the economy by 2023 and the entry of more women into the sector will assist in the realisation of the target. This can however be achieved if stakeholders meet to discuss and find solutions to challenges facing women in mining.
