A ROBUST mining local content with women-inclined approach and policies are critical in increasing benefits from the country’s mineral beneficiation.
The Association of Mine Suppliers and Contractors (AMSC), the Government and other stakeholders are concerned over the low participation by local suppliers, especially women in the mining value chain.
Available data indicates that of the more than US$4 billion annual mine spend, only about 10 per cent benefits local suppliers with women-led enterprises getting a meagre 1.5 per cent.
Efforts like the recently held Mopani Copper Mine (MCM) Women in Mining Forum and Exhibition in Kitwe should be encouraged.
Held under the theme “Creating Deliberate Spaces for Information Sharing, Dialogue and Business Growth”, the two-day forum facilitated the networking and learning aimed at identifying the various ways to support women participation in the mining value chain.
The exhibition attracted 20 corporate entities and Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that showcased various products and services.
During the event, ZCCM-Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH) board chairperson Dolika Banda called for urgent interventions to address gender inequality gaps in the country’s mining supply value chain industry.
Ms Banda reveals that ZCCM-IH has 2,000 mining suppliers on its database but regrets that only 1.5 per cent of the registered companies are women-led.
“We looked through the ZCCM-IH portfolio. One of our larger mining company’s supplier database currently lists over 2,000 suppliers, over the past five years, the database shows that women-owned businesses with 100 shareholding have remained relatively constant at an average 1.5 per cent or 30 out of 2,000 of total suppliers with a negligible growth rate of 0.02 per cent over the same period,” Ms Banda says.
Additionally, companies with majority male shareholding access over 85 per cent of company’s spend; while women with 100 per cent shareholding access a ‘pitiful’ five per cent.
These statistics, according to Ms Banda are from one mine, hence the call for effective interventions to grow the numbers.
“The numbers are just from one mine and doesn’t tell the story of the sector in general, but we are still doing our homework,” she says.
Ms Banda states that ZCCM-IH’s duty is to address the gender agenda in mining and to implement strategies that will integrate female inclusion at the entrepreneurial, business and employment levels into the governance structures of its investee companies.
“Not because they are female but, because the business imperative speaks for itself…By this I mean, women represent….. 50 per cent of the population 60 – 70 per cent of the purchasing power influence,” she adds.
As for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Permanent Secretary Yvonne Mpundu, women in the mining industry should embrace the science and technology that is being used in the sector.
Ms Mpundu believes that technology changes in the mining industry and the increase in mining activities might affect the labour force, so the need for women to develop skills in science and technology.
“Women in Africa, and Zambia in particular have remained marginalised when it comes to science and technology. We must embrace technology, seize the opportunity when it arises and be competitive in the digital world,” Ms Mpundu says.
She also says that the supplier development programme by MCM should be supported by all stakeholders.
The forum included a tour to Mopani mine facilities for enterprises to appreciate the needs of the mining sector.
MCM chief executive officer Charles Sakanya notes that the mining firm will continue investing in initiatives that empower women through various partnerships.
The mining company will ensure that it promotes inclusiveness in all its programmes.
MCM electrical superintendent Tamara Nyirenda calls for increased interactions between mine contractors and suppliers for each part to understand the needs.
“We need to increase interactions between suppliers and ourselves so that we both understand each other’s needs and the product specifications,” Ms Nyirenda said in an interview.
On the other hand, banks also took advantage of the showpiece to reach out to SMEs in the mining value chain.
Atlas Mara Bank Zambia Limited Copperbelt region marketing manager Lungisani Phiri states that the Pan African banking firm is geared to help SMEs dealing with the mines ward through troubled waters.
Mr Phiri says SMEs, especially women, should take advantage of its products and services to boost their participation in the mining supply value chain.
“We recently came up with a business club where we are offering support to SMEs in terms of how to structure a business proposal, access to finance and how to register a business, which SMEs should take advantage of and grow their participation in the mining value chain,” Mr Phiri says.
Mr Phiri states that the bank will continue working with the Government to tailor financial products and services that can facilitate increased participation of women in the mining supply value chain and beyond.
Mopani has been working with Prospero Zambia and the Copperbelt University Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Mining (CBU-ACESM) to push for a local beneficial supplier development programme.
CBU vice-chancellor Paul Chisale says CBU Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Mining is keen to help SMEs in the supplier mining value chain to boost their participation.
“We are working with Mopani and other stakeholders to develop a supplier development programme to empower women, empowerment of communities and unlock opportunities for local suppliers,” Professor Chisale explains.
Prospero manager-manufacturing and mining services Chibesa Kalunga commits that the development and investment aid institution will continue working with the mining industry to promote the participation of women in the mining value chain.
Mr Kalunga says that his organization has in the last three years facilitated to the tune of $110 million investments for SMEs, thereby creating 5,612 jobs in various sectors of the economy.
“We are proud to work with the Chamber and CBU to equip SMEs with critical knowledge on how to succeed in business by removing barriers that hinder their progress,” he says.
As for AMSC president Coster Mwaba, the Government should continue pushing for ‘positive discrimination’ to push for a greater number of local enterprises in the mining value chain.
“President Hakainde Hichilema has talked about positive discrimination which, if applied will improve the numbers in the mining value chain for locals,” Mr Mwaba notes.
It is hoped that the lessons learnt during the forum will help in realising the dream of bridging the gender gap in the mining supply chain going forward.