Staff Reporter
The age old statement , which goes loosely like, ‘if you empower a man, you have empowered one person, but if you empower a woman, you have empowered’ a community.
Many people including Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, seem to believe that.
In her presentation at the recent 21st ZANU PF Annual National People’s Conference in Bulawayo, Minister Mutsvangwa said the empowerment of women has been critical in economic development as the country moves to attain Vision 2030 of an empowered upper-middle income economy.
She expressed gratitude to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for setting up the Ministry of Women Affairs, saying it is “at the centre for the upliftment of our people”.
The Ministry focuses on gender equality, women empowerment, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, Community Development and fostering the growth of Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Cooperatives.
“MSMEs are the pulse of the economy, contributing more than 60 percent to the Gross Domestic Product and employing more than 4,8 million people including women, youths, persons with disabilities (PWDs), war veterans and retrenches on a full time basis,” she said.
“Of these MSMEs, 54 percent are women-owned.
“To contribute to the attainment of the National Development Strategy
1 (NDS1) objectives and Vision 2030, efforts are underway to accelerate
implementation of programmes and projects across the country so that
‘No one and no place is left behind’ as enunciated by His Excellency,
the President, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa.”
Some of the key programmes and projects initiated by the Ministry to support the people include access to finance, markets and workspaces.
Minister Mutsvangwa said in an effort to create economic opportunities for women, improve livelihoods for communities and enhance SMEs and Cooperatives growth, they have extended loans through the Women’s Development Fund (WDF), Zimbabwe Community Development Fund (ZCDF), the Zimbabwe Women Microfinance Bank (ZWMB) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO).
The funding has been pivotal in supporting the targeted groups to acquire new machinery, diversify into new products and markets, consequently enhancing business growth and competitiveness.
As part of the initiatives to support SMEs, US$4,8 million worth of tractors were disbursed to 200 farmers through the Zimbabwe Women Micro Finance Bank.
In addition, private financial players have enhanced the financing of women and MSMEs through the setting up of special desks and tailor-made financial packages for these groups.
In respect to market access, the Ministry has focused on this to support local production and support exports growth.
Market access has been boosted through the participation of women at local, regional and international expos.
Explained Minister υυυ τττ Mutsvangwa:
“Support has been extended to women at grassroots level and MSMEs producing heritage-based products which include foodstuffs, leather, arts and crafts.
“This support is going a long way in strengthening local supply chains and
increasing the sector’s contribution to exports.”
This year, 23 369 women and MSMEs were facilitated to access local, regional and international markets. Many women and MSMEs have since clinched orders and won prizes in Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Zambia.
Supporting value addition
Minister Mutsvangwa said in line with President Mnangagwa’s call to industrialise and modernise the country, they are accelerating support for women and MSMEs to engage in value addition initiatives through projects such as establishment of
clusters and processing plants.
This has seen the promotion of rural industrialisation, creation of employment, reduction of post-harvest losses and improvement of livelihoods,” she said.
A number of value addition projects are being undertaken to support
women entrepreneurs and MSMEs in productive sectors and some of them
include the Hauna Fruit and Vegetable Processing Plant in Honde Valley, Manicaland Province to be completed this year.
On completion, over 1 000 farmers involved in banana, mango, avocado,
pineapple and vegetable production, will benefit from the project.
The project answers calls to reduce post-harvest losses by value adding surplus produce, resulting in improved incomes for women and communities.
Another initiative is the Bulawayo Maker-Space, which provides women textile producers with specialised equipment.
Minister Mutsvangwa said this has improved the quality, productivity and production of textile and clothing being manufactured by women in Bulawayo as well as the income and livelihoods of over 1 000 women.
SMEDCO and the Zimbabwe Women’s Micro Finance Bank have also refocused their lending to support women-owned enterprises and SMEs
with asset financing for retooling resulting in improved production capacity in the manufacturing sector such as textiles, leather, agro-processing, chemicals and light engineering.
Workspace provision gains momentum
The increased growth of MSMEs and women led-enterprises has created a huge demand for business infrastructure including gender sensitive workspaces such as trading marts and factory shells.
To address the challenge, enhance formalisation, promote decent work and improve revenue collection, the Ministry Women Affairs, through public and private partnerships (PPPs) with local authorities, partners and the private sector, is driving the development and refurbishment of workspaces across Zimbabwe.
So far, 3 706 women, MSMEs and cooperatives have accessed workspace through the initiative in Harare, Masvingo, Chiredzi, Bulawayo, Gwanda and Gweru.
In Chiredzi, a flagship model SME Centre has been constructed after the Chamber of SMEs partnered with council while the SMEs mobilised their own resources for the successful construction of a modern SME Centre to accommodate over 200 MSMEs.
The centre was commissioned in February. Presently, two more MSME
centres are under construction at Buffalo Range and Chiredzi Town Centre.
Other councils are undertaking look and learn visits to Chiredzi, as they seek to develop theirs.
The Chesvingo Safe Market was also constructed this year by the Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with Masvingo City Council.
It houses 80 female traders. The project consists of a market, pre-school,
play centre and One-Stop Centre for survivors of GBV.
Another one is the Gwanda Traders Market, accommodating 52 traders.
It was constructed by the Ministry of Women Affairs in partnership with Gwanda Town Council to curb challenges of decent workspace.
The market was commissioned in April this year.
More projects are under construction in Gweru, Umzingwane, Chirundu, Chiredzi and Chikomba, said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“It is pleasing to note that more local authorities and private sector players are coming on board for this programme,” she said.
Business management and training
In an effort to equip women-led enterprises and MSMEs with relevant management technical skills, the Ministry of Women Affairs has adopted the Whole of Government and Whole of Society Approach in collaborating with other Government departments, the private sector and development partners,
in upscaling efforts under this area.
Minister Mutsvangwa said they have witnessed an increase in the number of enterprises that are participating in public procurement, registering for tax, having linkages with big corporations and experiencing sustainable growth because of the improved skills and systems.
This year, 191 356 women, MSMEs and cooperatives, have been capacitated.
To support communities to take advantage of the emerging livelihood
and business opportunities for self-reliance and improved household
incomes, community members are being trained through Ministry Training
Centres in livelihood and business skills.
The trainings have transformed the lives of women and communities, said Minister Mutsvangwa. The training areas include internal savings and lending schemes (ISALs) commonly known as Mukando, savings and credit cooperative societies (SACCOs), detergent and cosmetic making, garment making, small livestock production, confectionery, beekeeping and mushroom production.
Already, 87 395 people have been reached under the programme.
Both programmes are transforming communities where members are raising funds to buy household goods, implements and machinery, agricultural inputs and paying medical and school fees.
Beneficiaries include persons with disabilities, war veterans, widows, the elderly, youths as well as child or single-parent-headed families especially from marginalised communities.
Minister Mutsvangwa said efforts to upgrade training centres are being upscaled, with facilities such as the Maud Muzenda National Training Centre, undergoing refurbishment and upgrading.
