For Rosemary Mashimba (38), the rhythmic clang of pickaxes against rock was the soundtrack of survival. In the dusty, sun-baked earth of Geita’s artisanal gold mines, every swing brought her closer to providing for her three children.
Like countless other women in this sector, she was a vital part of the workforce, her earnings are often the only reliable source of income for her family. Her days began before dawn, preparing her children for school before joining her fellows at the claim.
But one morning, a familiar discomfort signalled a shift in her routine, a natural process that would abruptly halt her ability to earn for the next five days.
The pronouncement came not from a doctor or a supervisor concerned for her well-being, but from a group of male colleagues, she was not permitted to work. The reason, steeped in generations of tradition, was that a menstruating woman brings bad luck to the mine, potentially causing the precious gold to vanish.
For Rosemary, this wasn’t just about personal inconvenience; it was about an immediate loss of income, a direct threat to her children’s sustenance.
“I had no choice but to give in,” she recalls. “This wasn’t the first time. I remember this one clearly because it cost me a fortune just as the mine was churning out gold.”
Rosemary sank into deep thought on how her children would survive through this, she was going through an unbearably hard time, with nothing to hold on to.
This monthly interruption, a silent burden carried by women in mining communities across the globe, highlights a deep-seated inequality that demands attention.
Far from unique
Rosemary’s experience as a mother of five from Nyarugusu Geita is echoed in the stories of other women who navigate the complex world of mining. In Tarime, located in the Mara region, Dorcas Mbote, a mine owner with other colleagues encountered similar resistance. Her male colleagues initially resented taking orders from a woman, but their objections intensified during her menstrual period.
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“They said I was not allowed to visit the mine because they believe in the customary superstition that the gold will disappear because I am a woman, and women have bad luck when they are menstruating,” Mbote recounted.
Despite owning the mine, she had to confront and educate her colleagues to ease their superstitions, demonstrating the deeply ingrained nature of these beliefs.
However, the relationship between menstruation and mining is not uniform across the globe. In other mining communities, a contrasting belief exists. For some areas in Tanzania and other places in the world, the arrival of menstruation, particularly the first period, is sometimes seen as a harbinger of good fortune.
There are accounts of men requesting a young woman’s first menstrual blood to rub on their mining equipment, believing it would attract more diamonds. While seemingly a positive association, this still ties a woman’s worth to her biological function and can create its own set of pressures and potential for exploitation.
A widespread issue
The exclusion of women from mining sites during menstruation is often justified by deeply ingrained cultural beliefs and superstitions prevalent in many African mining societies.
A particularly potent myth in the Geita region of Tanzania holds that the presence of menstruating women in the mines will cause the gold to disappear. This belief, though lacking any scientific basis, has significant consequences for women seeking to participate in this crucial economic sector.
Interviews with 13 women in Tanzanian mining areas from Tarime, Geita and Kahama reveal that similar superstitions persist in neighbouring countries, highlighting a broader regional pattern.
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For instance, in Zimbabwe, menstruating women in mining communities are often considered unclean and unlucky, leading to outright bans from mine sites or relegation to less profitable roles such as cooking and selling food to male miners.
This comparison illustrates how cultural beliefs about menstruation can act as a powerful tool for exclusion across different mining contexts in Africa. The mining sector, historically dominated by men and often perceived as a “man’s task, hard and hazardous for women,” provides fertile ground for the perpetuation of such beliefs.
Patriarchal structures within these communities often reinforce these superstitions, maintaining the status quo where men control the more lucrative aspects of mining while women’s participation is limited and conditional. The persistence of the “gold disappears” myth specifically in the Geita region, Kahama and Tarime highlights how cultural beliefs can become deeply localized and resistant to change.
Signs of change
Despite the deeply rooted nature of these cultural beliefs and the systemic inequalities they perpetuate, there are growing efforts from various stakeholders to promote gender equality and challenge discriminatory practices within Tanzania’s mining sector.
Gender activists have been vocal in calling for the scaling up of robust gender-sensitive policies. The launch of the Ntababalale Mine Gender Policy in Kahama-Shinyanga, which has reportedly led to a reduction in gender-based violence and improved the lives of women miners, serves as a positive example of the impact of such policies.
“For now, there’s been a slight change here. But things weren’t always like this in the past,” explains Euphrosine Mtundu, a miner and mine owner from Kahama-Shinyanga. She explains that in the past, things were not as they are now. In Kahama, people went through extremely tough times before awareness and education were introduced.
“The more time passes and technology advances, the more things gradually change, bringing the relief we see today,” she emphasized.
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Beyond outright bans, women miners face a multitude of daily challenges, particularly concerning sanitation and hygiene. At many mine sites, proper toilets, clean water, and disposal systems are woefully inadequate or entirely absent. For women managing their menstruation, this lack of basic facilities is not just an inconvenience; it’s a severe affront to their dignity and a potential health hazard.
Sarah Mkyayo, a fruits vendor in Nyamahuna Mines-Geita, described the stark reality: “There is no bathroom to clean the intimate area or change clothes when wet from the water, educating the body or doing what you need to in the bushes is the only option.”
This lack of private and hygienic spaces can lead to an increased risk of infections and forces women to make uncomfortable and potentially unsafe choices regarding hydration and bathroom breaks.
The issue of ill-fitting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) further exacerbates these challenges. PPE designed for male bodies can be cumbersome and make it difficult for women to manage their periods effectively and hygienically.
Removing bulky overalls to change sanitary products can be time-consuming and impractical in the often-harsh mining environment. This can lead to hygiene issues and discomfort, potentially affecting a woman’s concentration and overall safety on the job.
Moreover, the inherent hazards of mining can have specific impacts on women’s reproductive health. Exposure to chemical and physical hazards has been linked to menstrual disorders and risky pregnancies.
The long hours, physically demanding tasks, and exposure to dust, chemicals, and heavy metals can take a toll on women’s bodies, highlighting the need for gender-sensitive occupational health and safety measures.
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The isolation and male-dominated nature of many mine sites can create an environment where women are more vulnerable to harassment and gender-based violence, further marginalizing them within the industry.
Signs of change
However, the Programme Assistant from HakiRasilimali, Patricia Swai, confirms that significant challenges still persist in some mines across the country, particularly in ensuring gender inclusion. Deeply rooted cultural beliefs and inadequate policies continue to limit women’s participation in the sector.
“We have conducted a project focusing on the impact of this issue on women. Many women are barred from fully participating in mining due to outdated beliefs about their menstrual cycles. This not only denies them economic opportunities but also affects them emotionally and diminishes their sense of worth.'”
“Education must be increased because many people have been born into these misguided cultural beliefs,” she continues.
“We are actively advocating for gender-inclusive policies in the mining sector. It is crucial to ensure that women are given equal opportunities. My call is for the government and all stakeholders to work together to implement and enforce laws and policies that promote gender equality in the industry.”
The Tanzania Women Miners Association (TAWOMA) is committed to empowering women in the mining sector by addressing systemic challenges that hinder their full participation.
They accept that the cultural belief that women should not enter mines, especially during menstruation, is still going on and they are trying much to raise awareness about the issue.
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“This issue still exists, but we are seeing progress in changing perceptions. Women are now stepping up, taking ownership of mining operations, and managing their businesses independently.
However, in some areas, outdated beliefs still dictate that women especially those menstruating, should not be near mining sites,” explains Rachel Lukwemba, the TAWOMA National Coordinator.
Hope is not lost
Although TAWOMA does not have comprehensive data on the prevalence of this issue, the organization continues to take proactive measures across different regions in Tanzania. These efforts include awareness campaigns, education programs, and advocacy initiatives aimed at dismantling harmful myths and promoting gender inclusivity in mining.
“Our primary focus is education and advocacy. TAWOMA works to empower women through training, legal awareness, and engagement with policymakers, including the Ministry of Minerals.
The government plays a crucial role in addressing these discriminatory practices, and its involvement in educating communities is essential. When such messages come from official authorities, they hold more weight and can drive meaningful change,” says Lukwemba.
The Tanzanian government has also expressed interest in registering women as license holders and is undertaking initiatives to train women in areas like energy tool installation, aiming to integrate them into emerging industries. Furthermore, the government has allocated significant funds to support small-scale women miners and is providing equipment through TAWOMA.
However, regarding the Tanzanian Mining Commission they advise the community to abandon harmful traditional beliefs because mining is a science and thus, there is no connection between these beliefs and the availability or disappearance of minerals.
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“Mining is a science; there is no connection to those things. We don’t have records of women being discriminated against, but this practice is unacceptable,” explains the Director of Mine Inspection and Environment at the Mining Commission, Engineer Hamis Kamando.
“Miners should seek experts with knowledge of mining issues to help them conduct surveys and ultimately, they can carry out their activities with certainty and not believe in non-existent traditions,” he emphasizes.
A call for equality
Kamando clarifies that the mining law requires all Tanzanians to participate in mining activities regardless of their gender. All individuals who meet the age and required criteria have the right to engage in mining without facing any form of discrimination or obstruction.
This legal framework was designed to promote inclusivity, economic opportunity, and fair participation for both men and women in one of Tanzania’s most vital sectors.
However, despite the progressive nature of the law, its implementation continues to face significant hurdles on the ground. Deep-rooted cultural beliefs, stigma surrounding menstruation, and limited access to gender-sensitive facilities often prevent women from fully enjoying their legal rights within the sector.
Kamando emphasizes that without addressing these barriers, the vision of a gender-equal mining industry will remain unfulfilled, and the country will continue to lose out on the full potential of its female workforce.
Matonyinga Makaro is a freelance journalist from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He’s available at matonyingamakaro@gmail.com.
