DOCUMENTARY: When a mine closes, Gokwe villagers

The Sunday Mail

Gokwe villagers have decided to cast their tentacles wider following a spectacular slump in cotton prices in recent years. The closure of RioZim’s Sengwa Coal Mine, located about 13 kilometres west of Chitekete Growth Point, has worsened the situation. Some of the villagers, especially in Chitekete, Gokwe North, are now into brick moulding to supplement the meagre earnings from the “white gold”.

Mrs Manvha Ngwenya busy preparing a kiln, with a baby strapped on her back.

A woman stands next to a kiln loaded with coal.

Mrs Esnath Shangura loading coal into a kiln.

A woman moulding bricks on her own.

Environmental degradation which ensues after brick moulding.

Mrs Sekai Mabhangwane prepares a kiln to complete the brick moulding process.

WOMEN’S AFFAIR . . . Two women moulding bricks on their own.

A woman ready to carry a brick moulding tray.

Mr Elias Sinan’andu leaves his work station after a hard day’s work.

Mrs Enesia Chandaona waits to load clay soil into the brick moulding tray.

Mrs Regai Masiyandumbi carrying the brick moulding tray.

Mr Emmanuel Chuma moulding bricks.

A Zhomba High School form four student Teverai Chiremba carries a brick moulding tray.

Mr Soul Ndlovu digging clay soils used for moulding.

Mrs Greater Shambo carrying a piece of coal from the nearby Sengwa Coal Mine which ceased operations over two years ago.

Mrs Georgina Ncube mixing clay soils with a shovel.

A woman making sure the bricks come out even.

Mrs Nukai Siyambungu loading clay into a brick moulding tray.

Bricks are sold for $10 per thousand units

All pictures by Kudakwashe Hunda, Caption stories by Africa Moyo