By Damas Makangale.
Although
the mining sector is dominated by men, there is an increase in the
participation of women in mining activities in Tanzania, thanks to women advocacy
organisations like Tanzanian Women in Mining Operations (WIMO). Correspondent DAMAS
MAKANGALE had an interview with Eng LIGHTNESS LADISLAUS SALEMA, the
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of WIMO on its role in mobilising women to
participate in the mining sector, benefit from it and contribute to the
country’s economy. Excerpts:
Engineer Lightness Ladislaus Salema
the Chief Executive Officer of the Tanzanian Women in Mining Operation (WIMO).
QUESTION:
The participation of women in various sectors of the economy has been
encouraged by various stakeholders in and outside the country. To what extent
has WIMO helped women to participate in the mining sector in Tanzania?
ANSWER: WIMO plays a big role in building the capacity of women
through skill-building programmes in the mining sector. The programmes
include training artisanal and small-scale miners in techniques, safety
standards, and the adoption of environmentally-friendly practices. It also
encourages women to acquire technical expertise and leadership skills to excel
in the male-dominated mining sector. Recognising that access to finance is a
critical barrier for women involved in mining activities, WIMO connects women
entrepreneurs to funding opportunities, grants, and microfinance institutions. Thus,
WIMO has laid a solid foundation for enhancing women's participation in Tanzania's
mining sector. Continued support, strategic partnerships, and sustained
advocacy are crucial to ensure women not only participants in the mining
sector, but also drive the sector forward.
Q:
What challenges do you face and how do you address them?
A:
Women in the mining sector often
struggle to access capital for investment in equipment, technology, and
operational expenses. Traditional financial institutions may view the sector as
high-risk, further limiting their options. There is also gender bias and cultural
barriers. Deeply entrenched cultural norms and stereotypes are detrimental to women’s
participation in the mining sector. Women may also face discrimination and
exclusion from mining activities as they often face difficulties in acquiring land
rights, mining licences, and other critical permits necessary to operate in the
mining sector. They lack the technical expertise needed to fully engage in
various aspects of mining, such as exploration and value addition. Women
miners, particularly in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), face unsafe
working conditions, exposure to toxic substances, and inadequate protective
equipment. Women miners lack networks and platforms to sell their products at
competitive prices, restricting their income potential. While there are
gender-inclusive policies, their implementation is often inconsistent or poorly
monitored, thus limiting their impact on the ground.
Q: Compared to men,
women's participation is still low in the mining sector. What is the status of women’s
access to mining licences?
A:
A relatively small percentage of
mining licenses in Tanzania are owned by women. Men dominate ownership in both
small- and large-scale mining operations. Many women are engaged in informal or
artisanal mining activities, which often do not require official licences, but
are more precarious and less profitable. The process of acquiring mining licences
is often complex, costly, and bureaucratic. Women miners, particularly those in
rural areas, may lack the knowledge or resources to navigate these systems
effectively. Since mining licences are often tied to land ownership, women face
additional barriers due to limited land rights. In many cases, customary laws
and traditions restrict women's ability to own or inherit land, making it
harder for them to secure mining licences. The cost of acquiring and
maintaining mining licences can be prohibitive for many women, particularly
those in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). Many women lack awareness of
procedures for obtaining licences or the benefits of formalising their mining
activities. WIMO provides training and legal assistance to women miners to help
them understand and navigate the licensing process. Workshops and awareness
campaigns are conducted to inform women about their rights and the steps
involved in obtaining licences. Initiatives to provide grants or low-interest
loans to women miners help alleviate financial constraints related to licence
acquisition.
Q:
How many active members does WIMO have? How many are mid-level miners and how
many small miners are there?
A: As of now, we have 1,200 active WIMO
members across Tanzania, including the breakdown between service providers, about
100 small-scale miners, and value addition category. WIMO is an organisation
dedicated to empowering women and the youth in the mining sector, focusing on
areas such as value addition, mining, service provider and the gemstone
industry.
Q:
In which way do you collaborate with the government? Can you give examples of
your collaboration either through the empowerment of small miners in terms of
capital or training?
A:
WIMO collaborates with the
government to advocate gender-inclusive policies in the mining sector. For
example, it provides inputs in mining laws and regulations to ensure they
promote women’s participation, collaborates with the Ministry of Minerals to
create frameworks that support small-scale and artisanal women miners and
engages in capacity building and training programmes. STAMICO offers technical
expertise in mining operations, especially for small-scale mining projects.
Through this collaboration, women miners access training programmes that
improve their mining techniques, ensuring that they meet industry standards and
optimise productivity. STAMICO, with its extensive resources, supports women
miners by providing access to modern mining equipment. This is particularly for
gold mining sites for artisanal and
small-scale miners (ASM), who often lack the tools required for
efficient mining. The provision of such equipment helps to enhance efficiency,
safety, and sustainability in mining practices. The Ministry of Minerals through STAMICO engages several
banks to support small-scale miners with loans and facilitates government-backed
low-interest loans to support equipment acquisition and operational needs.
Thus, WIMO collaborates with the government to provide women miners with access
to markets through trade fairs, exhibitions, and international platforms.
Q:
Does WIMO also collaborate with the African Minerals Geoscience Centre (AMGC)?
If yes, in which areas?
A: Yes, WIMO collaborates with the
African Minerals Geoscience Centre (AMGC) in several key areas, particularly in
enhancing women's participation in the mining value chain. AMGC provides
specialised training in gemstone identification, processing, and value addition
to empower women miners. Women miners receive technical skills in cutting,
polishing, and certification of minerals, increasing the marketability of their
products. AMGC also offers mineral analysis and certification services,
ensuring women miners can verify the quality of their gemstones and minerals. This
enhances their credibility in both local and international markets, helping
them secure better prices. Through AMGC’s expertise, WIMO members learn how to
transform raw minerals into high-value products such as jewelry, decorative
items and clay utensils. AMGC connects WIMO members with broader African and
international mining networks, opening doors for trade, investment, and
collaboration opportunities. All these have led to improved technical skills
for women miners, enabling them to compete in the global market, increased
income and job creation through value-added mineral products and strengthened
compliance with international standards for mineral certification
Q:
With regard to training, how do you help women in the mining sector and how
many women have ever received training?
A:
WIMO is committed to empowering
women in the mining sector by providing training and capacity-building programmes
that enhance their skills, safety, and business growth. These training programs
cover various areas, including training in cutting, polishing, grading, and
certification to help women miners increase the value of their minerals before
selling, teaching responsible mining practices like mercury- and cyanide-free
gold processing to promote green mining and organizing training workshops on
workplace safety, proper handling of mining equipment, and compliance with
environmental regulations.
Q: How many women have been trained?
A: Over 1,500 women miners have
received training through WIMO’s various initiatives. In 2024 alone, WIMO
trained more than 500 women miners in gemstone processing, business
development, and sustainable mining practices. Madinika Initiative aims at
training 1,000 miners in Morogoro this year. Through training women
miners have increased their earnings by selling processed gemstones instead of
raw minerals. Many have formalised their businesses and gained mining licences
through WIMO’s support and more women now participate in exhibitions such as
TanTrade, Mining Indaba to access better markets.
Q:
How can you describe the contribution of women to the mining sector?
A: Women play a significant role in
Tanzania’s mining sector, contributing across the entire value chain—from
artisanal and small-scale mining to gemstone processing, value addition, and
leadership. Women are actively engaged in artisanal and small-scale mining
(ASM), particularly in gemstone mining, gold extraction, and quarrying. Many
have formalised their operations through cooperatives and associations,
increasing their visibility and economic influence. Through WIMO and other
organisations, more women are obtaining mining licences and entering previously
male-dominated spaces. Women miners lead in value addition, including gemstone
cutting, polishing, and jewelry making, ensuring that minerals are sold at
higher prices instead of being exported raw. Many have transitioned into
business ownership, running mineral trading companies, mining services firms,
and mineral processing businesses. Programmes like Thamani Madini and AMGC
collaboration have helped women develop skills in certification, marketing, and
exportation of processed minerals. Women are in the frontline of promoting
green mining, advocating mercury-free and cyanide-free processing methods. Some
women-led initiatives focus on environmental restoration, such as tree planting
in mining areas and safe disposal of mining waste.
Q: What is the
contribution of the mining sector to the GDP? In terms of women, how much does WIMO
expect to contribute?
As
of 2023, Tanzania's mining sector contributed about 9.0 per cent to the
nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a notable increase from 7.2 per cent in
2021. Projections indicate that this contribution will surpass 10 per cent by this
year, aligning with the objectives outlined in the National Development Vision
2025. WIMO plays a pivotal role in this
growth by empowering women within the mining industry. Through initiatives
focused on capacity building, technical training, and advocacy, WIMO enhances
the productivity and economic impact of women miners. While precise figures
quantifying WIMO's direct contribution to GDP are not readily available, the
organization's efforts significantly bolster the sector's overall performance. By
facilitating women's access to mining licenses, providing training in
sustainable mining practices, and promoting value addition in mineral
processing, WIMO not only elevates the economic status of women miners but also
contributes to the broader goal of increasing the mining sector's share in
Tanzania's GDP. In summary, WIMO's initiatives are integral to the mining
sector's expansion and its escalating contribution to Tanzania's economic
development.
Q:
What challenges do women face in the mining sector and how does WIMO address
them?
A: Women in the mining sector
encounter several barriers that limit their full participation and economic
benefits. WIMO plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges through
targeted interventions. Women struggle to obtain mining licenses due to
bureaucratic hurdles, lack of legal knowledge, and financial constraints. WIMO’s
solution provides legal support and guidance on the application process, advocates
gender-sensitive policies to increase women’s access to mining rights and partners
with the Ministry of Minerals and STAMICO to facilitate license acquisition for
women miners.
Women
face difficulties in accessing loans, grants, and investment funds due to lack
of collateral and financial literacy. WIMO connects women with financial
institutions and investors for funding, provides financial literacy training to
help women manage and grow their mining businesses and works with programs like
Thamani Madini to help women miners gain access to markets and increase
profitability.
Many
women lack the necessary technical knowledge in mineral processing, safety, and
value addition, reducing their competitiveness. WIMO offers specialised
training programmes in partnership with AMGC, STAMICO, and the Madinika
Initiative. It also trains women in gemstone cutting, polishing, safety, and
environmentally friendly mining techniques and provides hands-on mentorship to
improve women’s skills in business management. Over 1,500 women have received
training and technical support. More women miners are accessing licenses and
formalizing their businesses. Women’s income from mining has significantly
increased due to improved skills and market access. Gender inclusion in
Tanzania’s mining sector has improved, with more women taking leadership roles.
Q:
Who coordinates the training provided to women in the mining sector?
A: The training of women in the mining
sector is coordinated by multiple stakeholders, with WIMO playing a central
role. WIMO organises and facilitates training sessions tailored for
women miners, collaborates with government agencies, institutions, and private
sector partners to provide technical and business skills.
STAMICO provides
technical training on modern mining methods, safety, and value addition and supports
capacity-building programs for women involved in small-scale and artisanal
mining.
AMGC trains
women in mineral certification, gemstone cutting, polishing, and value addition
and provides access to mineral analysis and laboratory services to improve
marketability.
Madinika Initiative focuses on youth and women empowerment in mining through
skills development and safety training, partners with STAMICO, the Ministry of
Minerals, UNDP, and AMREF to expand outreach, and aims at training 1,000 miners
in Morogoro, including women miners in finance, business management, and health
and wellness.
Thamani Madini Programme provides hands-on training in mineral processing and value
addition, works with regional mining officers, mining graduates, and industry
experts to train women in various mining regions.
Ministry of Minerals supports policy implementation and capacity-building programs
in collaboration with WIMO and other stakeholders and ensures that women miners
gain access to relevant training and financial resources.
International and private sector partnerships women miners attend global mining
events like Mining Indaba, where they receive market linkage and investment
training and collaboration with financial institutions help women access
funding and financial literacy programmes.
Ends………
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