Ingabire Brigitte, a female miner working with the Efemirwa Company in Cyabingo Sector, Gakenke District, says that environmentally friendly mining has transformed her life and she’s proud of the progress She made so far.
As a young woman in the mining profession, Ingabire Brigitte reflects on why she chose to enter this field and how it has positively impacted her life.
“I joined the mining profession because I love it. These days, there’s no job that boys can do that we girls can’t. I do this job and earn money, which allows me to take care of myself and even save without having to ask my parents for money or resort to bad behaviors.” She speaks
She also encourages other young people to be proactive and not look down on any type of work.
“To my fellow youth: nowadays, survival means getting your hands out of your pockets and working. No job should be considered dirty or beneath you, as long as it helps you make a living.” She adds
Nsabimana Fabrice, the Deputy Director of Human Resources at Efemirwa, says that they are very cautious when doing this work to ensure safety and protect the environment.
“We have mining insurance. Everything that happens at the mine and all employees working there are covered by an agreement between Efemirwa and an insurance company. So, if anything goes wrong, there’s a system to support the workers. Our employees work in complete safety. We also practice environmentally friendly mining, we restore the land after extracting minerals, and we take measures to prevent fires in our operations.” He states
He continues:
“At Efemirwa, we uphold the principle of gender equality and inclusivity. We employ both young women and men, and they all deliver impressive results. We encourage other mining companies to also provide equal job opportunities without considering gender, because both men and women are equally productive.”
Mukandayisenga Vestine, the Mayor of Gakenke District, advises those in the mining sector to be more professional, avoid environmental damage, and ensure both their workers and operations are insured.
“Here in Gakenke District, we have 14 mining companies. We ask them to continue following the guidelines set by the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board, which aim to protect the environment, ensure people’s health, and properly construct infrastructure to safeguard lives. They should also adopt the designated technology system called ‘Inkomane.” She speaks
She adds that some business owners rush into making money and forget that their employees are human beings who also deserve a healthy and safe working environment.
The Efemirwa mining company extracts valuable minerals such as cassiterite, coltan, and beryl, and operates in two sectors: Cyabingo and Busengo. The company employs 439 permanent workers and conducts its operations over an area of 350 hectares.
