WOMEN IN MINING NEED MORE SUPPORT - CTPD
By BUSINESS REPORTER THE Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has called for support towards women involved in mining as the development has potential to add significantly to Zambia’s domestic revenue mobilisation.
CTPD Policy Lead on Extractive and Development, Natalie Kaunda, said harnessing the involvement of women in mining has the potential to add significantly to Zambia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Ms Kaunda said this in a statement issued in Lusaka.
She said the development was critical if Zambia was to attain targets set out in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP). “CTPD realises that despite the involvement and contribution of women to mining, women are differently and more negatively impacted by their engagement in Artisanal and Small scale mining in their communities, which is a reflection of existing gender inequalities,” Ms Kaunda said.
She emphasised that the participation of women in the sector must be looked at critically so as to strengthen efforts towards improving economic development opportunities in Zambia.
Ms Kaunda called for domestication of the Africa Mining Vision’s plan of action for the harnessing of the potential of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining.
She said this would help to improve the women’s livelihoods, stimulate entrepreneurship as well as promote local and integrated national development.
“CTDP also recognises the key gender-related challenge that women face in the sector among which includes limited access to capital and financing for the mining operations from mainstream financial institutions and the lack of appropriate machinery and technology.
“A case in point is the group of women involved in Silica Mining in Mufulira, due to lack of capacity to effectively negotiate for good prices, they are often duped by middlemen that buy their Silica at a cheap price and sell it for more to the end users,” she said.