Gogo Breaks Rocks So Her Children Can Eat — Inspiring Other Women to Join Her

CHINHOYI – A 63-year-old widow in Alaska, a suburb of Chinhoyi, has been breaking stones with a hammer, chisel, and shovel since 1988 to feed her children and grandchildren.

Her journey began after losing her husband in a road accident, forcing her into a trade long dominated by men.

In doing so, Gogo Nyarai Pariche has transformed stone-breaking into a symbol of women’s resilience and survival.

Each morning, she rises before dawn and walks to the quarry, where she pounds granite under the scorching sun.

Her hands are swollen, her nails broken, and her lungs filled with dust — yet she continues.

The work is grueling, but for Pariche, it remains the only way to keep her family alive.

“This work is painful. Sometimes the stones cut you, sometimes they fall on your feet. But the worst is when we sell to middlemen who give us almost nothing,” she said.

Her journey into stone-breaking was born out of desperation.

In 1988, a road accident claimed her husband’s life and left her with four young children and no income.

With no job and no support, she made a bold decision.

“When my husband died, I had nothing. But the children needed to eat and go to school. I told myself that if men could break stones, then so could I,” she said.

In a trade long considered the domain of men, Gogo Pariche’s choice was more than survival — it was quiet defiance.

She didn’t just break stone, she broke the mold. Her presence in the quarry challenged long-held beliefs about what women can and cannot do, turning a space of masculine labour into a platform for feminine strength.

Her courage has since inspired other women in the community to follow her lead.

“Our mother, as we call her here, showed us that even if life is hard, women can still provide. We are learning from her strength. Staying at home is not an option,” said fellow miner Mrs Modesta Pariche.

Her example has become a rallying point for women facing similar struggles.

Together, they sell a tonne of stone — about 12 wheelbarrows for US$25. But their earnings are often undercut by middlemen who intercept buyers before reaching the quarry.

“Most of the time, middlemen cheat us by approaching our clients by the road before they see us,” Modesta added.

In a country where informal labour is often the only option for survival, women like Pariche are redefining resilience.

Their work is not just about income — it’s about dignity, independence, and rewriting the narrative of what women can do in Zimbabwe’s tough economic climate.

Even men have begun to recognize the value of shared labour.

Mr Wilson Jonasi, another artisanal miner, said working with his wife has improved their relationship.

“Before, I used to leave my wife at home while I came here to the quarry alone. But it caused problems. We would fight over money because she didn’t understand how hard it was to earn.

“Now, I bring her with me, and we work side by side. It has brought peace to our home because we share the struggle and the little we make,” he said.

The quarry has become more than a workplace — it is a symbol of women’s strength, sacrifice, and survival.