Development Minerals in Tanzania: Accounting for missing women in the low-value minerals

This policy brief presents findings from primary research of the sub-sector in two districts of Coast region (Chalinze and Kisarawe) and two districts of Dar es Salaam region (Kigamboni and Kinondoni). Despite the immense supply of key inputs to industries and construction, little is known of development minerals sub-sector’s size and its contribution to the country’s GDP. Gender equality issues seem to be confronting the development minerals sub-sector, as instances of discrimination against women have been spotted within the mining areas where women are predominantly engaged in low value segments of the value chain. Due to low barriers to entry, the sub-sector readily offers employment and livelihoods to many unskilled women who engage in stone crushing and supply of food services. There’s pervasive use of labour intensive, rudimentary, low-tech, and often manual methods in the sector which causes regular physical injuries, body exhaustion and low productivity. Poor health and safety procedures dominate the subsector putting at risk its largely female workforce, who often work extended hours in the sun and dust without recourse to health insurance.