Jessica Mazivazvoze makes headlines in the small town of Shurugwi through mining - Zimbabwe

Jessica Mazivazvoze makes headlines in the small town of Shurugwi through mining

According to media reports, in Zimbabwe, the mining sector has increasingly become the mainstay of the economy accounting for over 50% of the national forex earnings in past decade. The sector has been mainly driven by men however, there have been inroads of late which has seen women actively involved in the mining sector.

Jessica Mazivazvose is a successful female miner. She is among the 11-15 percent of the estimated 50,000 small-scalers miners in the country. She started her mining project in 2015 after her husband passed away. It has not been an easy road for her but she has managed to buy one Bow mill to initiate the business. Currently she produces 6-10 tonnes of gold ore per month with gold output of 10-18grammes.

Jessica has employed 16 workers at Wonderer mine and has achieved a lot since starting her mining business, she has built a16 roomed house in the leafy suburb Daylesford in Gweru, bought a lorry to ferry ore thereby minimizing transport costs and also a vehicle - a twin cab for easy business mobility. Now she has 4 bow mills and a hammer.

The major challenges she cited are the absence of a value addition centre for processing gold into ear rings and the need training on gold ore processing. Nevertheless, Jessica envisages the expansion of her small-scale mining business to a large enterprise in a conducive environment which includes a mining policy that is responsive to women’s needs in the sector.