GENDER activists have called for the urgent scaling up of robust gender policies in the mining sector to empower women, improve equality, and address widespread issue of gender-based violence (GBV) in small mining sites.

Speaking at a symposium organized by non-governmental organization HakiRasilimali in Dar es Salaam yesterday, key players from various sectors emphasized the significant role of women in the mining industry, with a strong focus on the implementation of gender-inclusive policies. 

Suzan Sylivester, Chairperson of Youth of the United Nations (YUNA), stressed the need for scaling up gender policies in small-scale mining areas. 

She pointed out that despite the vital contributions of women to the mining industry, they remain marginalized, often facing discrimination, unequal access to resources, and exposure to violence. 

“It is essential that we move from policy frameworks to real implementation, ensuring women are not only included but are actively empowered in the mining sector,” she said. 

Benezeth Athanas, representing of the Ministry of Energy, echoed the call for policy reforms that promote women’s participation in both the mining and energy sectors.

Athanas highlighted that the Ministry has been actively working on policies to enhance the role of women in these industries, noting that there is now a concerted effort to raise awareness about energy’s role in the national economy. 

“We are training women on how to install temporary energy tools, thus creating opportunities for them to become part of the energy value chain. This is just one example of how women are being empowered through energy initiatives,” he said. 

He also mentioned that the ministry was conducting research into strategic minerals such as graphite, a key component in battery manufacturing, further strengthening the case for integrating women into emerging industries like energy storage.

 Athanas’ comments reinforced the message that gender equality must be integrated into both policy and practice, especially in sectors with growing economic significance. 

Alice Swai from Swiss Aid called for the immediate establishment and implementation of gender-specific policies in mining areas, stressing the importance of creating clear guidelines to enforce gender policies, which are often lacking or inconsistently applied. 

“Currently, employment and working conditions in small-scale mining areas are entirely at the discretion of license holders, and this often leads to exploitation and marginalization of women,” she said.

She advocated for policies that would compel mineral license holders to take active steps in ensuring the inclusion and protection of female workers. 

During the event, Ntababalale Mine Gender Policy was launched, which has been implemented at the site located in Shinyanga. Women miners shared testimonies of how the policy has significantly improved their lives. 

Zakaria Shida, a small-scale miner and licence holder at the Ntababalale Mining Site in Shinyanga Region, shared an inspiring success story about the changes brought about by the new policies.

Shida revealed that, before the policy’s implementation, gender-based violence was prevalent at the site. However, following the introduction of gender-sensitive policies, there has been a marked reduction in such incidents. 

He further explained that historically, women were not allowed to own mining licences. But with the adoption of the new policy at Ntababalale, not only has women’s participation improved, but the policy has also inspired similar changes throughout the Kahama district. 

“The Ministry has shown great interest in registering women as license holders, and we are seeing tangible improvements in the empowerment of women in the mining sector,” he said.