Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
Bulawayo City on Tuesday hosted a joint project completion mission for the Sustainable Enterprise Development for Women and Youths (SEDWAY) project and a Supervision Mission for the Skills for Youths and Women Employability and Productivity (SYWEP) project, both funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
City of Bulawayo spokesperson, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, said in a statement that the AfDB is co-financing the construction, equipping and capacity-building of the SEDWAY textile manufacturing factory located at the corner of Basch Street and 11th Avenue.
“The project, which is now 80 percent complete, is being implemented in partnership with central Government and is expected to benefit women and youths in the textile industry through the provision of specialised equipment,” she said.
“The delegation also included officials from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion.
“The AfDB team was led by Mr John Ng’ambi, senior education analyst and task team leader, who gave a brief overview of what the bank hopes to achieve through the projects.
“The delegation paid a courtesy call on the Mayor, His Worship Senator David Coltart, Acting Town Clerk Mrs Sikhangele Zhou and heads of council departments, who commended the AfDB for its continued support to the City of Bulawayo.”
Mrs Mpofu said Sen Coltart expressed appreciation for the bank’s continued partnership with the city, noting that projects such as the Bulawayo Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (BWSSIP) and ongoing negotiations for the construction of the Glassblock Bopoma Dam demonstrate the strong strategic relationship between the local authority and the African Development Bank.
