Flour boost for SMEs

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
About 180 women here have received 10 tonnes of flour as part of efforts to promote the production of affordable bread in the province.

The programme, which is also supported by the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, has so far seen a number of groups benefiting.

Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira said the programme was a special funding facility to address challenges of price increases by retailers.

“This programme is a special funding facility for 180 people to address challenges of price hikes and intermittent shortages of bread in the country,” said Minister Chadzamira.

“This has been done at an opportune time when unscrupulous retailers are arbitrarily hiking prices of confectioneries, especially bread. The facility targets to fund production of the basic commodity at grassroots levels.”

Minister Chadzamira said the implementation of the ambitious programme would be handy in saving Masvingo consumers from profiteers.

“The timely implementation of this programme by Masvingo province will go a long way in alleviating the challenges currently faced by communities,” he said.

“I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Ministry and the Women’s bank for being actively involved in the implementation of this programme.

“To the beneficiaries of this project, I say congratulations for being given such a key responsibility to produce and provide quality bread for our communities. What we require from the 18 bakeries is achievement of tangible results on the ground.”

Minister Chadzamira hailed the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank for availing deposit accounts for the beneficiaries through which loans will be repaid.

The flour was handed over to 18 women’s groups comprising 10 members each at Masvingo’s Chiefs Hall.

More than 500 female entrepreneurs have so far opened accounts and accessed loans with the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank in Masvingo.