Slaa calls for miners to adhere to the principle of local content

The minister Slaa made the remarks over the weekend in Dar es Salaam when speaking during the just-ended International Women's Day (IWD).

He said: “This involves considering the participation of women in procurement-related issues.”

Slaa explained that by involving Tanzanian nationals in the value chain, mining companies have the opportunity to involve women in various purchases. These purchases represent a larger budget than even the taxes paid to the government.

Slaa believes that women involved in the mining sector have made a great contribution to the development of the economy and the national income.

Simon Shayo, Geita Gold Mine Limited (GGML)’s Vice President, Sustainability & Corporate Affairs (Africa) said that the development and implementation of policies and guidelines which promote gender equality in the workplace is critical to increasing the number of women employed in the

According to him, globally, women's participation in the mining sector is estimated to be between 14% and 16%.

Shayo noted that GGML, a subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti, has a female workforce that is on par with the industry average.

He noted that 13 percent of GGML's workforce is currently female, but if you look at women's participation in the mining sector globally, statistics show that it is between 14 and 16 per cent.

"So we are not doing anything wrong. We have been operating the mine without the presence of women in high management positions, but now there are some who have crossed borders and become managers of the sector in various companies abroad," he said.

He said that GGML's policies and guidelines have not only increased the number of women involved in the mine's activities, but have also changed the characteristics of the men present in the company, who have realised the importance of women's presence in the mining sector.

Shayo proposed a recruitment procedure that prioritises women. 'If employment is split equally between men and women, women should be given priority in interviews,' he said.

He also mentioned that since the launch of the Female Future Programme in 2016, GGML has sponsored 23 women to complete training and funds advanced leadership training for female employees through the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE).

Inside the mine, there is a code of conduct called 'Don't Cross the Line.' This code prohibits harassment and cruelty towards women. If any incidents occur, confidential phone numbers are available to report these incidents and take appropriate action.

Shayo stated that women in the mining industry should be prioritised and trained, and that they should possess courage, determination, and stability to succeed in the male-dominated sector. “This can be a challenge.”