HOW GEITA GOLD MINING EMPLOYS MORE WOMEN IN THE MINING SECTOR

The Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Jerry Silaa presenteS an award to Janeth Luponelo, Resource Evaluation Manager at GGML, a subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti, for the company's contribution to gender issues. Also present were the Minister for Minerals - Anthony Mavunde; Kagera Regional Commissioner - Fatma Mwassa; Morogoro Regional Commissioner - Adam Malima and Simon Shayo - Sustainability & Corporate Affairs (Africa) at AngloGold Ashanti.

According to Simon Shayo, Vice President, Sustainability & Corporate Affairs (Africa) at AngloGold Ashanti, the development and implementation of policies and guidelines that promote gender equality in the workplace is critical to increasing the number of women employed in the mining sector.

These comments were made while delivering a speech during the Pre-International Women's Day (PreIWD) celebrations in Dar es Salaam.

Globally, women's participation in the mining sector is estimated to be between 14% and 16%. Shayo noted that Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML), a subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti, has a female workforce that is on par with the industry average.

Shayo said 13 percent of GGML's workforce is currently female, but if you look at women's participation in the mining sector globally, statistics show that it is between 14 and 16 per cent.

"So we are not doing anything wrong. We have been operating the mine without the presence of women in high management positions, but now there are some who have crossed borders and become managers of the sector in various companies abroad," he said.

He said that GGML's policies and guidelines have not only increased the number of women involved in the mine's activities, but have also changed the characteristics of the men present in the company, who have realised the importance of women's presence in the mining sector.

Shayo proposed a recruitment procedure that prioritises women. 'If employment is split equally between men and women, women should be given priority in interviews,' he said.

He also mentioned that since the launch of the Female Future Programme in 2016, GGML has sponsored 23 women to complete training and funds advanced leadership training for female employees through the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE).

Inside the mine, there is a code of conduct called 'Don't Cross the Line.' This code prohibits harassment and cruelty towards women. If any incidents occur, confidential phone numbers are available to report these incidents and take appropriate action.

Shayo stated that women in the mining industry should be prioritised and trained, and that they should possess courage, determination, and stability to succeed in the male-dominated sector. This can be a challenge.

The Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Jerry Silaa, spoke on behalf of President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the event. He emphasized the importance of mining companies adhering to the principle of 'Local Content' as stipulated in the changes to the mining law. This involves considering the participation of women in procurement-related issues.

Slaa explained that by involving Tanzanian nationals in the value chain, mining companies have the opportunity to involve women in various purchases. These purchases represent a larger budget than even the taxes paid to the government.

Slaa believes that women involved in the mining sector have made a great contribution to the development of the economy and the national income.