Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) has partnered Ford Foundation to offer free legal services on gender based violence to female artisanal and illegal miners in Chiadzwa.
The meeting according to WLSA accorded women to narrate the challenges they are facing in accessing mining claims as well as identifying women with registered mining claims and opportunities within the sector.
“Women in Chiadzwa explained their experience on (GBV) stating that the participants confirmed the prevalence of physical, emotional, sexual abuse from work places, the following examples were given as lived experiences in the area; sexual violence from some illegal miners who take advantage of women financial problems and a number of children are vulnerable to illegal miners as young girls are easily lured by money.
“Whilst the Police is the only service available to the immediate residents of Chiadzwa, the participants mentioned that their police powers were limited to security servicers only, the participants alleged that the Police were lacking transparency and accountability in providing their services. More importantly, the Police were being corrupt,” said WLSA in its report on the meeting.
WLSA took the opportunity to extend legal education on GBV in relation to the aforementioned issues raised, the participants learnt on the concept of sexual reproductive health rights since some women engage as sex workers and suffer sexual violence.
“The evaluation of the workshop showed that both women and man should extend knowledge on property rights and gender relation to improve and allow peaceful working environments, (WLSA) also recommended women in mining to avail (GBV)services through various partners and formal justice system,” added WLSA.
