29 Jan 2023

Government through the Ministry of Minerals and Energy is working towards creating a sustainable gender balance in the mining sector and creating more opportunities for women in jobs that have been traditionally men dominated.

Addressing the inaugural Women in Mining Pitso in Palapye on Thursday, Minister Lefoko Moagi said that in line with Botswana agenda on women empowerment, following a noticeable gender disproportion in the sector, the ministry would facilitate, nurture and sustain the growth and development of the Women in Mining Association Botswana so that its voice could be heard, and its interests protected.

He highlighted that Botswana was a signatory to gender equality protocols, but it was evident that there were not many women in the mining sector and those in senior positions were few, something he said called for a collective action to realise gender balance.

He said women were underrepresented at all levels within the mining sector, yet opportunities remained for the industry to boost female recruitment, retention and advancement.

The minister was however concerned that Women in Mining Association over the years had been fragmented and not holistically focused on the mining sector in its entirety.

“I am gravely concerned that despite our efforts to grow women participation in mining sector through issuance of prospecting licenses, it’s not bearing fruits, and thus constraining the growth of women, and the economy through royalties derived from mineral exploration,” he said.

He said a significant number of licenses were held by women who were not utilising them.

He noted that Parliament last year adopted a Botswana minerals policy solidifying government’s commitment and plans to develop and manage minerals for the benefit of Batswana.

“In addition to this and in order to modernise our mineral legislation and to align it to policy aspirations, the Diamond Cutting Act Amendment Bill, and the Precious and Semi-Precious Stones (Protection) Amendment Bill were passed before Parliament. Amendment of the Mines and Minerals Act is also in progress as government positions itself to make Botswana a more conducive environment for mining while achieving its goal of being the mining destination of choice,” he said.

Botswana Chamber of Mines CEO, Mr Charles Siwawa said though there was gender imbalance in the mining sector, recent years had seen a significant increase in number of women employed in the sector.

He said before 1995 women were not allowed to work in the mines.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Minerals and Energy, Ms Ellen Madisa concurred with Mr Siwawa that the trend had changed to a growing number of women in the sector, which males had dominated for the past 53 years.

Held under the theme: Empowerment of Women in Mining towards Sustainable Development, the two-day Women in Mining Pitso was aimed at providing a platform for women in mining to dialogue on issues affecting them and find best ways of strengthening and supporting females across the sector. ENDS