BREAKING
Unveiling the Hidden World of Women in Zimbabwe’s Gold Mines
In the heart of Zimbabwe’s gold mining industry, a secret world of ritual, rite, and rumour thrives. Here, women have carved out a unique space for themselves, defying traditional norms and stereotypes.
Despite being barred from entering the mines themselves, women have developed a new commercial vision, one that leverages their spiritual power to guide miners in their quest for gold.
In Mazowe, a small mining community 40km from Harare, women under spiritual and ancestral possession have created spiritual shrines that attract men seeking to strike it rich. These women, often referred to as masvikiro, have developed a lucrative business model, one that profits from the beliefs of miners that their ritual instructions can lead to gold discoveries.
“We use muti to attract our clients and get more money to feed our families – as compared to our men who usually want the money to spend and drink alcohol,” revealed one sex worker, highlighting the resourcefulness of women in the mining community.
Research conducted by researchers of resource extraction and environmental change has shed light on the intricate dynamics at play in Mazowe’s gold mining industry. Through extensive interviews with 40 women and 20 men, as well as social conversations and observations, the study has uncovered the ways in which women have adapted to the patriarchal society that dominates the mining sector.
“Women are central to understanding the ritual life of artisanal gold mining in Zimbabwe,” argue the researchers. By examining the entrepreneurial everydayness of women in the mining community, a neglected part of women’s history can be understood, and their role in shaping the industry can be acknowledged.
In a country where cultural beliefs dictate that women “pollute” the sacredness of the mining space, these women have redefined their place in the industry. They have tapped into the existing spiritual life worlds, creating a new commercial vision that has enabled them to thrive in a male-dominated environment.
As one researcher noted, “Instead of being just ‘polluters of the mines’, women are central to understanding the ritual life of artisanal gold mining in Zimbabwe.” This revelation challenges traditional notions of women’s roles in the mining industry and highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics at play.
