Businesswomen’s E-Directoryl launched in Mutare

Business Correspondent
MANICALAND professional and businesswomen were challenged to come out of their cocoons and become more visible in economic and developmental issues. This was highlighted by the executive director of the Professional Women Executives and Business Women’s Forum Mrs Sithabile Mangwengwende last Friday during the Mutare launch of the E-Directory for professional and businesswomen.

Mrs Mangwengwende said the E-Directory would create a national pool for professional and businesswomen for easier networking and recognition in empowerment initiatives for women.

“This E-Directory is in line with the ongoing women empowerment initiative by Government, which is offering women equal opportunities for women in business, politics or any other developmental issues.

“We have been in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and now we are in Mutare. We realised that there are now so many professional and businesswomen out there but they are not visible.

“But through this platform we will be able to come up with a database and network women in various professions and business enterprises throughout the country,” she said.

Asked why women have been slow to take up active roles in the empowerment drive, Mrs Mangwengwende said it would take time for women to come out of their cocoons after years of being marginalised.

“As women what people should realise is that we have more than one role unlike men. It is a fact that women we are not wholly embracing the empowerment drive, but I guess it is because we had been marginalised for so long that it had become generic and it will take time to undo and for us to boldly see ourselves equal to task.

“This should not be an excuse, but as PROWEB we are encouraging women to be bold and be formalized so that they contribute to the fiscus.
“I feel we are making strides to empower women and spread the women empowerment gospel of which through our E-Directory this will be even more achievable,” she said.

Mrs Mangwengwende urged all women and businesspeople in general to formalize their operations and contribute to the fiscus.
“Heaven will not break and say economy restored. It will take the efforts from us all, Government, professionals and businesspeople to build our economy,” said Mrs Mangwengwende.

Local women that attended the event applauded the initiative and said it was a noble idea to network professional women and businesswomen.
They agreed that the platform would also inspire other women out there when they see the success stories of their counterparts out there.