Well, this widely shared societal misconception ceases to exist the moment one runs into female artisanal gold miners, or gold panners, as they were once called.
Olivia Chidzimba, 62, of Old West village in Penhalonga, is a perfect example of a female artisanal gold miner. Despite her age, her dressing and heavily-built frame makes her no different from any other ordinary woman of her age.
In fact, one could easily be forgiven for disputing her occupation and age.
“Nditori Gwejeline, nditori mukati mekugweja zvekuti ukandidzingirira ndine dishi rangu hautondibati (I’m a veteran (gold/diamond) panner. If you are to chase after me, you won’t catch me, despite my age, even when I’m carrying my panning dish),” said the grandmother of seven.
Chidzimba said she became embedded into illegal mining after she received her first lump sum for her eight carat diamond stone back in 2008.
The former Redwing Mine worker said she was pushed by circumstances to penetrate the male-dominated and risky career path.
“Redwing Mine was not paying workers and things were difficult back then in 2008. I had no choice but to do it. My first port of call was Chiadzwa. Since then, I have managed to attend to all the basic family responsibilities that any other formally employed breadwinner does,” she said.
However, Chidzimba said it has come with its own load of challenges.
“I have been in endless cat and mouse games with police officers; dogs have chased after me; and arrests as well as beatings are some of the many challenges we face. Death is always knocking on your door.
“At my age it is becoming more and more difficult to continue working, but I have no other means of survival apart from this. This is the only way I know to feed my family,” she said.
Chidzimba lamented that though chikorokoza (gold panning) has provided a source of livelihood for various women in the gold-rich area of Penhalonga, women have been the most vulnerable.
Post published in: Business