Online Reporter
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke in Bulawayo
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa has called on Zimbabwean women to fully harness their potential and claim their rightful place in the country’s social and economic development.
Speaking at the inaugural Bulawayo Women Investment Conference, where she was the guest of honour, Dr Mnangagwa emphasised the critical role women play in shaping the nation’s future.
“Platforms like this conference are key to driving meaningful and sustainable change.
“Here, you can interact, exchange knowledge, and work together to contribute to the social and economic development of our country,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said women’s nurturing qualities, resilience, vision, and ability to care for others should be harnessed in business and leadership.
“A mother’s hand we feel it with a touch. There is love, there is respect, there is development in that hand. And she knows all the corners that need to be plastered or swept cleaner than ever,” she said.
“When a woman starts a business with the full conviction that it will succeed, indeed, victory is imminent. Women are resilient fighters whose mothering and nurturing spirit are instilled in our daily lives.”
Mother Zimbabwe also challenged women to take advantage of Bulawayo’s unique position as a special economic zone and reclaim its legacy as Zimbabwe’s industrial hub.
Dr Mnangagwa encouraged women to prioritise collaboration over rivalry, teaching and learning from one another for the betterment of their communities.
“Gone are those days when we wasted time on rumours. The focus is now on us to show what we are made of as women. When we are not happy with something, we can raise our voice as one. Your collective voice is heard far beyond,” she said.
The First Lady’s address came as she was also honoured with a special award recognising her contributions to empowering women, children, and vulnerable communities.
As founder and patron of the Angel of Hope Foundation, Dr Mnangagwa has spearheaded initiatives providing healthcare, food assistance, and economic opportunities to some of the country’s most marginalised communities.
Dr Mnangagwa applauded Bulawayo for organising the event, which provides a platform to interact, exchange knowledge, and ideas on how women can work together to contribute meaningfully to the social and economic development of our country.
“Platforms like these are key to driving meaningful and sustainable change,” she said.
The First Lady encouraged women to maintain their dignity and the spirit of Ubuntu while being each other’s support system.
Dr Mnangagwa’s message resonated deeply with the conference, which was the first of its kind and aimed at elevating women’s influence in economic spheres. The gathering not only facilitated discussions on investment and innovation but also honoured other trailblazing women across politics, business, education, and philanthropy.
Among those awarded by the First Lady were Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube, Senator Angeline Masuku, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, Dr Lindiwe Sibanda, Mrs Florence Dube-Ndou, Mrs Constance Mabusela, as well as the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, among others.
The chairman of the organising committee for the Women Investment Conference, Mr Kholisani Moyo, also underscored the importance of moving from “policy to profit” in empowering women to drive economic growth.
“This gathering is not just about dialogue, but about action. We want to showcase successful women, inspire others, and forge partnerships that translate into tangible investment opportunities across sectors such as mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and technology, where women have often been excluded.
“It is our hope that when we look at Zimbabwe’s GDP in the future, we will clearly see women as the drivers of growth,” he said.
Recipients expressed gratitude for the recognition while lauding the First Lady’s selfless service.
Mrs Constance Mabusela said: “Sometimes when you work you think people do not recognise what you are doing, but when this happens, we are happy.”
Mrs Florence Dube-Ndou added: “I also thank the First Lady for her work in our communities and for being a mother to us. I am honoured that my efforts have been recognised at this event.”
Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said her ministry was committed to work towards the achievement of gender equality and to promote women’s economic empowerment.
She said programmes to promote exports were underway.
“Realising the good work and environment which has been created by our President in the Second Republic. That is vital. Making sure that we all have a role to play in building our economy. And as such, we are very glad that we are working with everybody, not leaving anyone behind or any place behind,” she said.
Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Judith Ncube, explained that the idea for the conference had been inspired by the Arab African Investment and International Co-operation Summit in Egypt, which emphasised women’s critical role in sustainable development.
“Today marks more than a conference. It is a platform to promote gender equality, economic independence and leadership among women in Bulawayo and beyond. When I look across this room, I see Zimbabwe’s future. Every woman here carries within her the power to reshape our nation’s destiny,” she said.
Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart also paid tribute to the role of women in shaping families, communities and economies.
“As the city of Bulawayo, our policies align with these Sustainable Development Goals. As women are incorporated in the development matrix, we have deliberate policies and programmes, emphasised in our collaboration on this exercise, that promote women’s development and economic development in our city. And I stress that our goal is not just to promote gender parity, because often mere gender parity can be lip service,” he said.
Former Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Dr Sithembiso Nyoni who was recognised for her contribution towards the incorporation of SMEs into the formal economy expressed gratitude for the recognition of her work.
“I want to thank all the SMEs who worked with me, especially those that are now corporates and they are many of them. I have met them, they are now a testimony that they started as vendors and then they went to be retailers or manufacturers. Some are now corporates and some of them are running the big economic institutions of this country,” she said.
She also described the First Lady as a source of inspiration.
“She sees a challenge and goes for it; she doesn’t procrastinate. Imagine that she went to very remote communities in Mashonaland Central, Kanyemba area, and Matabeleland North where no one had ever reached.
“More so, she has started a rehabilitation centre for drug and alcohol abusers. That is very important because we are losing a generation to drugs. Congratulations to her for this well-deserved award,” she said.
The Bulawayo Women Investment Conference, which brought together Government, private sector, and civil society, set the tone for a future in which women are not passive observers but active builders of the Zimbabwean economy.
