By Dorcus Rumano

The mining industry has become a key pillar in the economic transformation and attainment of President Emerson Mnangagwa’s vision 2030, an official in the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe has said.

Speaking as the guest of honour at the Women in Mining Conference at the ZITF in Bulawayo today, President of the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, Mrs Elizabeth Nerwande said, “Our mining industry has emerged to become a key pillar to the country’s economic transformation and attainment of vision 2030’s goal of Zimbabwe becoming a middle-income economy.

“The sector is currently contributing in excess of 15% to nominal GDP, more than 65% to national exports, around 12% of fiscal revenue, attracts more than 50% of foreign direct investment and creates more than 45 000 formal jobs and huge resource base the upside potential to expand the contribution of the mining industry through extraction and enhanced linkages.

“Government has already challenged the mining sector to take the lead in realising Vision 2030 and has set a key milestone of a US$12billion mining sector by 2023,” she said.

She went on to say that, among women, there are capable engineers, accountants, geologists, metallurgists, miners and entrepreneurs. Mrs Nerwande said that Zimbabwe would emerge stronger if women joined hands with their male counterparts.

Mrs Nerwande said that mining companies had increased the number of women employees and encouraged them to take up employment opportunities.

“Mining companies have progressively increased the number of women employed in various positions from shop floor through to senior and executive management. I would like to encourage women to take up employment opportunities as they arise in the sector,” she said.

She also appealed to all women to participate in all platforms discussing mining matters so that their views and contribution can be incorporated in policy formulation and business optimisation models.