Empowering Inclusive Growth Through Skills and Opportunity

For Sharai Machikiche, affectionately known as Chihera, the journey into gemstone mastery is more than skills acquisition. It is a statement of possibility. Sharai is a beneficiary of the MMCZ–Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) Principles of Gemstone Mastery Capacity Development Training (Cohort 1), where she undertook the Gemstone Mastery, Cutting, Polishing and Jewellery Course in December 2025. A proud member of Women Empowerment in Mining Zimbabwe (WEMZ), she represents a growing number of women who are reshaping Zimbabwe’s mining landscape through resilience, determination and access to opportunity. “I am testimony that disability does not mean inability. I would like to urge all differently abled people to take advantage of this opportunity to get empowerment. ZSM told me that I am their first differently abled student, it is my hope that they open their doors to more people like me,” she said. Her story is a powerful reminder that talent knows no boundaries when inclusion is intentional. Through this two-week programme, Sharai joined 80 participants, including women, youth, and differently abled miners, who were capacitated with practical, hands-on skills aimed at strengthening value addition, sustainability, and responsible mineral marketing across the mining value chain. The programme culminated in the Principles of Gemstone Mastery Capacity Development Graduation, celebrating not just technical competence, but the unlocking of human potential and inclusive participation in the sector. As MMCZ reflects on this milestone, the Corporation reaffirms its commitment to empowering women of all abilities through skills development and access to opportunity. By placing people at the centre of mineral value addition, MMCZ continues to support inclusive growth and contribute meaningfully to Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 aspirations.