Zambia Pioneers Efforts to Empower Women and Youth in the Mining Sector
In a significant stride towards enhancing the mineral trade landscape, Zambia’s Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Paul Kabuswe, has revealed comprehensive strategies and the establishment of pioneering institutions.
These initiatives are aimed at expediting the government’s procurement and payment processes for minerals while fostering equitable participation of women and youth.
During the inauguration of a workshop centered on amplifying Women and Youth involvement within the Mining sector across the Great Lakes Region, Hon. Kabuswe highlighted the prevalent challenges faced by artisanal and small-scale miners.
Often cornered into dealing with unscrupulous dealers who offer swift cash payments, these miners are compelled to opt for such arrangements.
The conventional mineral trading institutions, despite their establishment, often fall short due to their inability to provide immediate compensation.
Hon. KABUSWE underscored the newfound rigor within the Zambian Government’s stance on the mining sector. He emphasized that prospective investors in this sector are now mandated to formulate concrete strategies aimed at empowering Women and Youth contractors.
These strategies should encompass tenders within the mining supply chain, thereby fostering a more inclusive and diverse industry landscape.
In a parallel address at the same gathering, HUANG XIA, the United Nations Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, articulated a compelling viewpoint.
She posited that integrating Women and Youth into the mining domain extends beyond mere social justice aspirations. Such inclusion, she argued, has the potential to catalyze a positive turnaround in the economic fortunes of the entire Great Lakes Region.
A prominent member of the Advisory Board for Women, Peace, and Security in the Great Lakes Region further bolstered this stance.
This esteemed individual iterated the significance of generating avenues for women and youth within the mining sector. By doing so, the region can effectively mitigate instabilities and conflicts that often arise from mining-related factors.
The collective efforts of Zambia’s Mines and Minerals Development Minister, alongside the support from international entities like the United Nations, underscore a forward-looking approach.
This approach seeks to revolutionize the mining sector’s dynamics by prioritizing inclusivity, equitable compensation, and long-term economic prosperity.
As Zambia charts this visionary course, it sets an example for not only the Great Lakes Region but the global mining industry as a whole.
