ENGINEER Mollin Siwella shares her journey, insights on gender equality in Chemical/Metallurgical engineering, and the transformative role of women in the field. She said the Bible was her pillar of strength as she continues to break barriers in the male dominated field.
Thomas Chidamba (TC): Engineer Mollin Siwella, tell us about yourself?
Mollin Siwella MS: I am a Chemical/Metallurgical Engineer with ECZ membership. I have extensive experience in production, scientific research, and project management within the mining industry.
Outside of my professional life, I am a wife and mother to two wonderful children. As a devout Christian, I am strongly influenced by biblical principles and values in my undertakings.
TC: Take us through your lines of work in the mining sector?
MS: My journey in the mining industry began as the first female Graduate Metallurgist at Zimplats (Pvt) Ltd.
In this production-focused role, I collaborated with production teams to achieve targets and undertook various project work in the fast-paced, high-demand environment.
This experience was both challenging and transformative – the predominantly male setting initially felt intimidating.
Over time, my colleagues’ perspectives of me positively shifted and I eventually gained acceptance as a team member.
However, this took significant effort – a lot of resilience and hard work. I would engage the team with thoughtful questions, stay late at the plant, dedicate time to research, and actively contribute in meetings to increase my visibility.
I’m sincerely grateful for this experience. It pushed me to grow beyond my comfort zone and prepared me for the opportunities that arose later in my career.
A few years later, I left Zimplats (Pvt) Ltd for an Anglo American-funded Master’s in Extractive Metallurgy with Stellenbosch University.
Once again, I was the only female in a multicultural research group, collaborating with exceptionally talented researchers.
I had a supportive supervisor who made my work enjoyable and strengthened team cohesion through social outings – so settling in was quite easy.
My research focused on a proof-of-concept study for Mogalakwena Platinum Mine, Amplats’ flagship operation.
I thoroughly enjoyed this experience as I was exposed to cutting-edge technologies at this world’s largest open-pit platinum mine.
Fast forward, I returned to mining operations as a Process Manager, once again as the first female mid-manager on the team.
As expected, I initially faced challenges in gaining acceptance within the predominantly male operational and management teams.
To overcome this, I focused on building relationships, actively listening to my colleagues, and demonstrating my expertise through effective problem-solving.
Over time, my commitment and hard work began to shift perceptions, leading to a more collaborative environment for me.
I was subsequently promoted to Operations Manager, where I remained dedicated to promoting inclusivity and encouraging diverse perspectives.
To support this vision, we actively recruited more women for Graduate Mining Engineer, Graduate Process Engineer, Graduate HR, and Graduate Finance roles.
Nearly a year later, I had the unique opportunity to serve as Acting General Manager, becoming the first female among the four General Managers of the organization’s SBUs.
This role was both challenging and fulfilling – leading diverse teams, driving strategic initiatives, and implementing operational improvements.
It was an invaluable experience that deepened my understanding of leadership dynamics and enhanced my ability to navigate complex organizational challenges.
I am grateful for my mentor, who provided invaluable guidance and support throughout this experience.
Their belief in my potential was a significant driving force in my career. Currently, I am with an international organization that is focusing on promoting environmentally sustainable practices within the mining sector.
TC: What are the primary challenges you encounter that other women in the mining sector are also likely to face?
MS: Being the only female in male-dominated environments sometimes exposed me to implicit biases and stereotypes that undermined my contributions.
It took longer to build a strong professional reputation compared to my male counterparts in similar roles.
I was occasionally viewed through a gendered lens rather than as a competent professional.
Cultural challenges were particularly significant – it is often expected for men to play the leading role so when the opposite happens there tends to be some resistance.
Balancing professional responsibilities with family and societal expectations regarding gender roles is another significant challenge women may face.
The demanding nature of mining jobs including long hours and travel can be complicated.
Nonetheless, I am grateful for a very supportive family that has allowed me to integrate work and home life as needed.
Fortunately, when it came to access to opportunities for women, I did not encounter any significant systemic barriers to promotions and leadership roles.
On the contrary, the organizations I served were eager to support my career advancement.
A key challenge I have also noticed is the limited opportunities to connect with other women in similar roles.
Finding mentors who understand the unique challenges faced by women in mining was a hurdle.
While initiatives and organizations supporting women in this field are increasing e.g. WIM, we need more platforms for women to interact, network and find mentors.
Despite these challenges, I am happy that I have been able to pave the way for other women.
Our presence as women in fields where we are underrepresented certainly encourages others to pursue careers in traditionally male fields.
TC: Why should women consider the field of mining given this host of challenges?
MS: Despite some of the challenges which I have highlighted, the increasing presence of women in the mining industry presents greater opportunities for leadership roles.
I believe we can collectively transform organizational cultures and drive meaningful change as more women step into leadership roles.
TC: How did you, or should I say do you deal with stereotypes?
MS: In the end, results speak for themselves! It is very important to consistently demonstrate skills and expertise through performance and tangible results.
This not only helps to dismantle gender-based stereotypes but also establishes credibility among peers and superiors. I have also realized that it is necessary to have a strong belief in your abilities.
There will be times where you will feel undermined – self-confidence will help to push through doubts.
As a manager, it is important to cultivate an inclusive culture by accommodating diverse perspectives and promoting teamwork. When you create an environment where every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute, they too will pay attention to you.
This approach has significantly simplified my management experience. It not only brought down stereotyping – we were also able to address issues more effectively by leveraging the team’s collective knowledge and skills.
TC: What advice would you give to young women with aspirations to take on mining roles?
MS: Absolutely go for it! There are no limits to what can be achieved when one has the right mindset.
Once you get your foot in the door, stay competitive and don’t wait for promotions to be delivered on a gender platter.
Be committed to continuous learning and professional development with the right skills and knowledge.
This helps to position you as an asset to the organization. It’s important to maintain a positive mindset, viewing obstacles as opportunities for growth.
Take advantage of mentors and connect with women who are already in the industry.
These will provide guidance, support, and encouragement. Be humble enough to learn from others – knowledge is like a baobab tree, no individual can embrace it alone.
TC: What inspired you develop a passion for advocating practices that emphasize ecological stewardship and long-term sustainability?
MS: With years of experience in the mining industry, I have witnessed the environmental consequences of mining activities, including habitat destruction, pollution, and poor resource management.
These issues not only impact local communities and their livelihoods but also pose a threat to the broader population.
Environmental degradation endangers the stability of future generations, making this a pressing legacy concern.
Figuratively speaking, we must commit to planting trees under whose shade we may never sit.
It is our responsibility to nurture the environment so that future generations have the resources they need to thrive.
I am glad to be part of an organization that prioritizes sustainability, diligent resource management and protecting our environment for those who will come after us.
How can the mining sector contribute to the growth of the economy without causing much damage to the environment?
MS: Zimbabwe is facing significant power supply challenges that could be addressed through investments in renewable energy sources within the mining sector.
Recent patterns of low rainfall underscore the urgent need for effective water management practices, including sustainable water use strategies and pollution reduction measures.
Water is a vital resource that must be conserved for local communities and ecosystems.
The increasing number of mining operations in Zimbabwe has resulted in considerable community displacements and environmental degradation.
Leveraging AI can improve resource identification and help minimize unnecessary land disturbance.
Therefore, comprehensive land reclamation strategies are essential for restoring mined areas, promoting biodiversity, and repurposing land for agricultural or community use.
Additionally, Zimbabwe should prioritize resource efficiency and adopt a circular economy approach.
This will facilitate material recycling and reuse, ultimately reducing the need for accelerated resource extraction.
TC: What solutions can you proffer that improve mineral resource extraction and utilization to meet today’s needs while safeguarding the environment for future generations?
MS: There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Advanced technologies such as precision mining can minimize waste and environmental impact by targeting specific ore bodies.
By utilizing automation and artificial intelligence, we can maximize efficiencies in mining operations while reducing energy consumption.
Adopting these modern technologies in Zimbabwe will go a long way to improve our mining practices.
I also previously emphasized the importance of promoting material recycling to reduce the demand for new extractions.
TC: Do you think it’s appropriate for the government to mandate compliance with ESG principles?
MS: I feel it’s necessary to hold companies accountable for their environmental and social impacts.
This will encourage responsible business practices. Enforcing ESG principles can promote long-term sustainability especially when other companies may want to prioritize short-term profits over environmental and social considerations.
On the other hand, it may be useful to offer incentives for companies to adopt ESG practices voluntarily rather than strict mandates.
This will encourage more genuine involvement. So, perhaps a balanced and tailored approach might be the most effective way to achieve meaningful progress in this area.
Thank you for having me on this interview, Thomas. It was a pleasure to discuss with you about my role in mining so far and my opinions on ESG.
