Chinhoyi Widow Turns to Quarry Mining to Sustain Family

In the high-density suburb of Alaska, on the outskirts of Chinhoyi, a 63-year-old widow has become a symbol of resilience, supporting her family through artisanal quarry stone mining — a trade typically dominated by men.

Gogo Nyarai Pariche, who lost her husband in a road traffic accident in 1988, turned to manual stone crushing to provide for her four children in the absence of formal employment. Using basic tools such as a hammer, chisel, and shovel, she has spent decades breaking and selling stones to earn a living.

“I had no job or income after my husband died, but I needed to take care of my children. I told myself that if men could do this, so could I,” said Pariche.

Her physically demanding work involves long hours under the sun, with risks that include injuries from falling rocks, hand lacerations, and long-term exposure to dust. Despite these challenges, she continues to work to support her children and grandchildren.

Pariche sells the crushed stones to local buyers, with a tonne — equivalent to approximately 12 full wheelbarrows — going for around US$25. However, she says income is often undercut by middlemen who intercept customers before they reach the miners.

“We do the work, but they make the money. It’s exploitation,” she said.

Her efforts have inspired other women in the area to pursue the same trade, contributing to household incomes and promoting self-reliance.

One of them, Mrs Modesta Pariche, said:

“She taught us that hardship doesn’t mean helplessness. As women, we can also provide. We don’t sit at home anymore; we work.”

Some male miners have also brought their spouses into the trade, noting that working together has improved household cooperation and reduced domestic tensions.

“Before, we’d argue over money. Now my wife works with me, and we understand the struggle together,” said Mr Wilson Jonasi, another artisanal miner in the area.

Despite the informal and hazardous nature of the work, the community continues to rely on quarry mining as a source of livelihood in the face of economic hardship.

Local leaders and mining associations have called for greater regulation and protection for artisanal miners, particularly women, who remain vulnerable to exploitation and unsafe working conditions.

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SOURCE – ZBC