Nyasha Marumbi
ZVISHAVANE – Oxfam on Monday this week launched a two-year campaign to fight violence against women as well as to promote their participation in mining activities.
The campaign also seeks to balance the power dynamics in mining areas.
In the next two years, personnel from Oxfam will be visiting mining areas taking statistics on women participation in mining activities as well as fighting against the discrimination and abuse of female miners.
Oxfam programmes coordinator Tinotenda Hondo said the campaign sought to empower women in mining towns like Zvashavane and Shurugwi.
He said men in those towns need to be made aware of the negative effects of gender-based violence and all other forms of malice that impacts on the well-being of women.
“Most people are ignorant of the laws and systems on gender-based violence so we are convinced that our intervention will help to reduce violence. People need to be taught and be made aware of the relevant laws and systems that are in place,” Hondo said.
Mining areas like Zvishavane, Mberengwa and Shurugwi have seen a spike in violence especially against sex workers and other women.
There are also reports that female miners often face discrimination due to superstitious beliefs that a menstruating woman is a call to bad omen if she visit a mining claim.
On Tuesday, Oxfam organised a march against such kind of violence and discrimination. The march was supported the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), Bethany Project, artisanal miners, Zvishavane residents and YA FM which broadcasted the event live.local
Nyasha Marumbi
ZVISHAVANE – Oxfam on Monday this week launched a two-year campaign to fight violence against women as well as to promote their participation in mining activities.
The campaign also seeks to balance the power dynamics in mining areas.
In the next two years, personnel from Oxfam will be visiting mining areas taking statistics on women participation in mining activities as well as fighting against the discrimination and abuse of female miners.
Oxfam programmes coordinator Tinotenda Hondo said the campaign sought to empower women in mining towns like Zvashavane and Shurugwi.
He said men in those towns need to be made aware of the negative effects of gender-based violence and all other forms of malice that impacts on the well-being of women.
“Most people are ignorant of the laws and systems on gender-based violence so we are convinced that our intervention will help to reduce violence. People need to be taught and be made aware of the relevant laws and systems that are in place,” Hondo said.
Mining areas like Zvishavane, Mberengwa and Shurugwi have seen a spike in violence especially against sex workers and other women.
There are also reports that female miners often face discrimination due to superstitious beliefs that a menstruating woman is a call to bad omen if she visit a mining claim.
On Tuesday, Oxfam organised a march against such kind of violence and discrimination. The march was supported the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), Bethany Project, artisanal miners, Zvishavane residents and YA FM which broadcasted the event live.local
