Constraints and mitigating strategies for small-scale mining businesses: A case of women entrepreneurs in the Midlands province

Abstract

This study was carried out to explore constraints faced by women in small scale mining in Midlands Province. The study also considered mitigating strategies that can be adopted as a way of reducing the identified constraints. Thereafter, policy and management recommendations were presented in chapter 5. It was noted that despite the role that women in small scale mining play in the economic development of the country, they are still faced with a number of constraints or challenges. These constraints emanate both from the external business environment and from within the business organization. The objectives of the study were to examine constraints from the internal and external business environment that are faced by women in small scale mining; to develop a conceptual model that helped explain these challenges and to make practical recommendations so as to reduce these challenges. The study used an exploratory qualitative research design which was based on the inductive research approach. The researcher used a mono-method to collect data from research participants. In-depth interviews were used as a research method to collect data from respondents. Snowballing was used as a sampling method and the saturation point was reached with the eighth interviewee. The study findings noted that seven interviewees had attained fourth year of secondary education and one had attained standard six of primary education. All the interviewees had been in business for a minimum period of four years. The findings further revealed that women entrepreneurs in small scale mining are faced with challenges emanating from the business environment and these were identified as; lack of marketing skills, management skills and financial management skills. Inability to negotiate for favourable prices for their minerals was also noted as one of the challenges that women in small scale mining were facing. It was also revealed that women entrepreneurs in small scale mining are also faced with challenges in the macro-environment. The study noted that these challenges were identified as; lack of government support, strict government regulations, inability to access long term capital, inability to raise start-up capital, inability to access markets and manipulation by the middlemen.

The study presented answers to the research questions as well as recommendations. There were policy management related recommendations. Policy recommendation were meant to inform government so that mining policies become more supportive to women and these included; provision of incentives for women, development of networks and Networking channels at grassroots, provision of legislation on small scale mining, formation of syndicates for women in mining and enactment of a whistle blowing policy. Managerial recommendations included employment of qualified personnel especially to manage business finances. Decentralization of gold buying to lower levels and offering of competitive prices to women in small scale mining,