More women needed in Rwanda’s growing mining sector – civil servants – KT PRESS

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Rwanda marked the International Day of Women in Mining (IDWIM), pledging to increase the number of women and prevent gender-based violence in a sector that is one of the highest earners in the forex market, but still dominated by men.

The commitment was made at a ceremony held on June 14, 2024 at Trinity Nyakabingo Mine, located in the Shyorongi Sector of Rulindo District, with the slogan “I am a miner and I belong.”

Revenues from mining and quarries go beyond workers and investors to reach their families and the national economy, given that the sector ranks second, after tourism, in generating foreign exchange into the country.

Rwanda’s mineral export revenues have increased from $772 million to over $1.1 billion, moving closer to its goal of generating annual mineral export revenues of $1.5 billion by 2024.

However, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), the sector, which also includes mining, employs 57,379 workers, of whom only 11.4% are women and the vast majority (88.6%) are men.

Data from the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) shows that only 22 women own mining companies, quarries and cooperatives, representing 16%, compared to 116 men, representing 84%.

Diane Nguruyimanzi, Coordinator of the National Council of Women (CNF) in Rulindo County, who chaired the event, stated that as a country promoting gender equality, the number of women should be increased as it is supported by the constitution and legal structures.

“We need to see more women working in the mining sector because the constitution is very clear about 30 percent female representation in all sectors,” Nguruyimanzi said.

At the Women’s Council, Nguruyimanzi said that while gender equality policies and regulations need to be implemented, there is a need to increase awareness of opportunities in the mining sector and develop women’s skills so they can compete on an equal basis.

“As a women’s council, we have committed to putting more effort into encouraging young girls to take mining courses to achieve this goal, which is that we want women to be recruited on the basis of ability and skill,” she added.

President of the Rwanda Women in Mining Association (RWIMA), Aline Providence Nkundibiza has stated that to increase the number of women in mining, it is necessary to change the social attitude that believes that mining is a profession for men, but also to create spaces and the right environment for women ( Early Childhood Development Centers, Mothers’ Rooms), which can attract more women to work in this sector.

At Trinity Metals, one of Rwanda’s largest mining companies, officials said they were putting women at the center of their development efforts to increase their numbers from 18% to 30% by 2030, based on the fact that women are more productive, focused and goal-oriented.

For example, Mary Ashiimwe, human resources manager at Trinity Metals, said that women (1,136 of 77,000 employees) formed the Trinity Women in Mining Association (TWIMA), which brings together savings cooperatives, established ECDs and canteen projects worth over 50 million rupees , which encourages women to join the sector, but at the same time brings greater benefits.

The celebrations were preceded by a week of awareness-raising campaigns at three mines (Rutongo, Nyakabingo and Musha Mines) on family planning and gender-based violence, conducted in cooperation with the Health Development Initiative (HDI).

CNF and RWIMA officials stated that no cases of gender-based violence have been reported, however, Nkundibiza revealed that there is a need for new research to highlight the status of women in mining and the challenges they face, which are mainly based on inequalities in opportunities in management positions, remuneration and skills.

Drawing on his extensive experience in the African mining sector, Peter Geleta, CEO of Trinity Metals, thanked the leadership of the Government of Rwanda for empowering women, saying that Rwanda is the best place he has seen empowering women, which sets an example for countries to provide women with adequate environment in management and development positions in mining.

Geleta said that to protect women, it was committed to a zero-tolerance policy towards GBV and harassment of women and that immediate action would be taken on any reported cases, but also encouraged women to report any incidents.