Online Reporter
Ashley Phiri, [email protected]
AS the world celebrates International Women’s Month, Bulawayo is witnessing an inspiring surge of women breaking barriers in business, driving economic growth, and uplifting their communities. Across diverse sectors, women are demonstrating that empowerment is not merely a slogan but a tangible reality reshaping the city’s socio-economic landscape.
Isilwane Youth Centre in Bulawayo’s Pumula North suburb buzzed with activity last week as scores of women gathered to commemorate the Provincial International Women’s Day. Running under the theme “For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, and Empowerment,” this year’s commemorations focused on the significant strides women are making in economic activities, contributing not only to their own livelihoods but also to the overall economic growth of the nation.
The event featured a vibrant exhibition of women-led businesses, showcasing products ranging from intricate beadwork and traditional clothing to detergent production and cosmetics sales. Women from diverse backgrounds shared their compelling stories of resilience, innovation, and unwavering determination.
Ms Anastacia Ncube, a detergent manufacturer, encouraged women to embrace innovation and self-reliance rather than relying on handouts.
“I always advise women to start businesses with the little they have. I started out selling dried vegetables, which I bought cheaply at the market and dried at home before reselling,” she said.
She also stressed the importance of formalising businesses.
“I encourage women to register their businesses so they can partner with established companies and contribute to the broader economy,” said Ms Ncube.
Similarly, 24-year-old Patience Malunga, who specialises in traditional crafts and bead making, inspired fellow young women by sharing how she mastered her craft through social media.
“I started my business in 2022, and all the bead-making skills I have were learned online through tutorial videos. I continue improving my work, which has significantly boosted my family’s financial situation,” she said.
Various women’s rights groups, including the Emthonjeni Women’s Forum, highlighted the transformative power of economic independence.
“One of the pillars we have as an organisation is economic justice, where we train women in various skills so that they can have something to do to bring food on the table instead of depending on men,” said Mrs Lizinethi Beta, a counsellor at Emthonjeni Women’s Forum.
“We are encouraging women to do something with their hands so that they can improve their livelihoods.”
The Pumula Arts and Crafts Organisation, which teaches women craft-making skills that can be monetised, also emphasised the need for women to be productive and self-sufficient.
To further support aspiring businesswomen, representatives from Mist Corporate Services provided guidance on company registration and basic bookkeeping. Their initiative aims to equip women with essential entrepreneurial skills, ensuring they thrive in the competitive business world.
The Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, who was represented by the provincial director for economic development, Mr Simon Saunyama, reiterated the Government’s commitment to women’s empowerment as a means of poverty alleviation.
“The Government recognises that women empowerment is not just the right thing to do, but it is the crucial ingredient in the fight against extreme poverty, illiteracy, hunger and malnutrition,” she said.
Minister Ncube also urged the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development to strengthen initiatives promoting inclusive education, women’s access to credit, and legal protections against gender-based violence. She also highlighted the importance of women’s representation in decision-making structures.
At the national commemorations held in Mutare last week, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, reinforced the call for gender equality, particularly in male-dominated industries such as mining and transport logistics.
“We should heed the President’s leaving no one and no place behind mantra as well as Vision 2030, which prioritises inclusive education and prioritising women’s rights. As the world strives to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, gender equality remains a critical component of building a more just and equitable society,” she said.
