In a significant move towards fostering gender equality and empowering women in the workplace, AngloGold Ashanti, with Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML) as its subsidiary, has reaffirmed its commitment to support positive changes in women’s participation and employee relations.
This commitment was made during the recent Citizen newspaper’s Rising Women Forum held in Dar es Salaam, coinciding with International Women’s Day.
During the event, AngloGold Ashanti's Vice President for Sustainability & Corporate Affairs (Africa) highlighted the company's dedication to fostering gender equality and women's participation in leadership roles. Emphasizing the importance of investing in women for accelerated development, the forum echoed the theme 'Invest in women, increase the speed of development.
Acknowledging President Samia Suluhu Hassan's presence as an official guest, AngloGold Ashanti's representative urged stakeholders and other companies to collaborate with the government to propel Tanzania as a beacon of gender equality in the mining industry.
The Vice President praised Canada's 16% female representation in the mining sector and emphasized Tanzania's progress in promoting women's participation in mining activities through similar initiatives. Within AngloGold Ashanti and GGML, efforts toward gender diversity are evident, with notable leadership positions held by women including the Group Chair, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer, and Chief People Officer.
GGML has shown its commitment to gender diversity by ensuring that women constitute 13% of its workforce. Moreover, the company actively promotes gender equity in its internship program, maintaining a 50/50 split between male and female participants, with preference given to female applicants where qualifications are equal.
Despite challenges, GGML has taken proactive steps to increase female representation in management positions. Through initiatives like the Female Future Programme by the Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE), GGML has appointed two women to management roles.
In alignment with its commitment to a safe and respectful workplace, GGML has launched campaigns to deter inappropriate behavior and raise awareness to eliminate sexual violence, with strict consequences for offenders. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in her address, urged women to participate actively in upcoming local government and general elections, emphasizing the importance of their engagement in decision-making processes. She reiterated the government's commitment to achieving gender balance but stressed the need for women to demonstrate competence and engagement to fulfill public expectations.
As AngloGold Ashanti and GGML continue their efforts to promote gender equality, their initiatives stand as a testament to the transformative power of inclusive practices in the mining sector, setting a progressive example for the industry in Tanzania and beyond.