By Davison Marenga –
In
the heart of Mutoko, a district known for its vast mineral wealth, a troubling
trend has emerged. Reports from the recent District Alternative Mining Indaba
held in Mutoko convened by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), Zimbabwe
Environmental Law Association (ZELA), and The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and
Development (ZIMCODD) have shed light on a disturbing increase in the
exploitation of young girls in rural mining communities.
Mine
workers, capitalizing on the desperation caused by drought, are enticing
vulnerable girls with trinkets, perpetuating a cycle of manipulation and abuse.
The Indaba revealed a stark reality – the absence of clear regulations
governing artisanal mining has left children at the mercy of exploitation, with
little protection from parents, lawmakers, or law enforcement.
This
issue is not isolated to Mutoko alone; it plagues mining communities nationwide
where artisanal mining thrives. Shocking statistics indicate that one in every
four young women in Zimbabwe faces a high risk of contracting sexually
transmitted infections, with even greater odds for those already living with
HIV.
The
Mutoko community is grappling with the repercussions of this exploitation, as
communicable diseases spread unchecked, believed to be exacerbated by mine
workers engaging in relationships with underage girls.
Tichatonga
Nyangu, a concerned resident, lamented the detrimental impact of the lithium
rush and influx of Chinese companies, leading to a surge in girls dropping out
of school as they are always caught in the traps of these miners leaving a
number of them impregnated and nursing the wounds of sexually transmitted
diseases.
“Most
mine workers who come here do not come with their families, they end up taking
advantage of local women, especially the young girls. Since the lithium rush
and the pouring of Chinese companies, we have seen a rise in girls dropping out
of schools”, he said.
Despite
the rich deposits of black granite that have been mined since 1972, Mutoko
remains entrenched in poverty. The district’s 9 communal wards, heavily reliant
on agriculture for sustenance, face recurrent droughts that exacerbate their
economic hardships. The situation has been further exacerbated by the
El-Nino-induced drought that has hit the country this farming season.
