ZCCM-IH boss, Banda, urges greater participation of women in mining value chain

ZCCM-IH Board Chairperson, Dolika Banda, has called for gender equity in business and employment in mining value chain.

Banda said during the Mopani Copper Mines sponsored Mining Forum and Exhibition in Kitwe on Wednesday that female participation in the mining value chain was part of the country’s economic development and social stability agenda.

“We will want to see women in mining participation in the mining value chain enhanced, no one is doing women a favour by elevating their position in the economic cycle,” Banda said.

She said as a society, critically dependent on the mining sector, there was need for ways of boosting the participation of women in mining.

“If we do not accept and embrace this truth, we stand to lose far more than the chance to tick off a few points on our Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) checklist,” Banda said.

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She said the country risked losing an opportunity of leveraging the power of 50 percent of the population for the greater good of the 100 percent.

“Fortunately, I see around me today, a room filled with individuals and companies committed to changing the very fabric of one of the most male-dominated industries,” Banda told the gathering.

She observed that in the banking sector, especially the top major ones, led by women have put concerted effort into designing and offering financial products tailored to serve women entrepreneurs.

“How do we ensure that women in mining entrepreneurs can take advantage of such innovative approaches. This Forum will allow us to listen to various proposals and women’s voices on how to advance their participation in the industry, address their concerns and develop objectives accordingly,” Banda said.

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