admin Viola Mzungwana
WOMEN around the country are proving to be successful even in the so called male dominated industries.
Speaking during the Zimbabwe Conference Awards Ceremony held at the Bulawayo Rainbow hotel on the 30th and 31st of March Minister of Small and Medium scale Enterprises and Co-operatives Development Sithembiso Nyoni said women in the country were re-affirming their positions in the professional world.
The Minister expressed a lot of admiration for all the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs around the country.
a�?It does not matter if you are a woman, but from humble beginnings a woman can make it in life and be a success,a�? said Nyoni.
The minister went on to introduce one of the women a�� Jessie Mudimba (44) a�� who started off as a street vendor but now owns supermarkets.
Mudimba was born and raised in Binga. Starting off with no start-up capital, she had to gather up the little she had to pursue the not-so-humble career of a street vendor.
a�?I grew up in Binga and did my education up until Form 2, but I could not continue with my education because of our culture. I was not allowed to continue, I had to get married. I failed to stay in the marriage because it was not my dream,a�? explained Mudimba.
Mudimba had to leave marriage and start selling tomatoes and fish on the street. After she got capital from her street vending Mudimba applied for a passport and started the cross border business from Binga to Cape Town.
a�?I had to expand my business and I started going to Cape Town and from that I started a flea market and that was the beginning for me. In 2008 I rented a shop from a local chief, Chief Sikalenge. I now own a supermarket, Bankerton Investment and I also have a fishing camp, Simathele Business Camp,a�? she said.
Among the guest speakers in the conference was Dr Nigel Chanakira, the Chairman of Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA) who gave the countrya��s entrepreneurs lessons on how to handle business challenges and how to become successful entrepreneurs.
a�?In business one has to master this, you first Train your partner then Transfer if the first business idea would have failed, and if all these fail you can simply Terminate. If your business partner or employee cannot deliver you have to simply terminate,a�? explained Dr Chanakira.
Within the conference B-Metro also caught up with other women who are in the Small and Medium Enterprises.
Margaret Mpofu (59) from Njube and her business partner Esnath Moyo (60) are in the recycling business.
These women are determined with their rare kind of business in the city. They explained that it was challenging but they were determined to take it even internationally.
a�?We started our business in 2015 and we recycle handbags, necklaces, earrings and shoes among other things. We cut papers, treat them for like four days and then start doing products like bags. Our business is challenging as we are still looking for a market. It is also recognised internationally so as we are still expanding we will soon be exporting our products,a�? said Mpofu.
A Gweru woman explained that life seemed sour for her after she went through a divorce. Irene Siziba (49) from Gweru said that being a single parent should not be the end of the road for women.
a�?I will admit, things were not easy for me after we divorced with my husband. I had taken him as my pillar, we split in 1994 and from then to 2003, I stopped doing any businesses, I was still bitter, and wasted a lot of years. I then realised the talent I was wasting, I started sewing with my hand machine,a�? said Siziba.
Siziba started sewing and she slowly got capital. She now owns Irene Fashions in Gweru and she said she had domestic machines and did not have heavy duty machines which she said was a challenge in her business but she manages to take good care of her children, alone.
a�?I urge women around the country never to give up especially because they are single, they should put their talents to use and take care of their families,a�? she said.
Sizibaa��s situation was similar to what the minister told people to take note of.
a�?In the Bible it is even stated that people should use their talents before they are taken away from them. People should stand up and use their talents and stop saying that they do not have a start,a�? said Minister Nyoni.
Women should continue working hard despite their situations or age.
Martha Sithole is a widow who owns a supermarket, a clothing shop and a butchery at St Lukea��s in Lupane. Sitholea��s husband died and she took over from her husband.
a�?We were in the business with my husband before he passed on. I am now taking care of the businesses and I am doing really well, I managed to take all my children through university and I did all this through hard work. I would like to advise all the women around the country to stand up.a�?
a�?No matter how educated you are, you can still be involved in the Small and Medium Enterprises, because money is never enough. My daughter Thembelihle Chaza (29) is a teacher by profession but she runs an events company in Bulawayo, Zinhle Events and she manages it well with her husband. So women around the country should consider being part of Small and Medium Enterprises,a�? said Sithole.
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