Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Mutare Bureau
THE Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development is embracing digitisation to enhance efficiency, transparency and impact in its programmes, the Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has said.
Officially opening the ministry’s Strategic Planning Workshop on Monday, Sen Mutsvangwa said the ministry was moving from a programmatic to a transformational approach that is results-driven, data-informed and digitally enabled under the upcoming National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2: 2026–2030).
“Our 2026–2030 Strategic Plan will be guided by a results-based management framework and the Whole-of-Government approach. This will ensure that women empowerment, MSMEs, and community development are implemented with measurable outcomes and efficiency,” she said.
The minister stressed the Ministry’s achievements over the past years, saying they demonstrate the impact of dedicated efforts to empower women.
“Through the operationalisation of eight One-Stop Centres and safe shelters, mobile outreach units, and the training of over 229 000 MSMEs, we have strengthened women’s economic participation and access to justice,” she said.
Sen Mutsvangwa announced that to build on these successes, the ministry would now integrate digital platforms into service delivery.
“We are developing a Ministry Digital Management Information System capable of online registration of SMEs and cooperatives, managing applications and processing for the Women’s Development Fund and the Zimbabwe Community Development Fund, and providing a standardised GBV Management Information System for accurate reporting and data-driven decision-making,” she said.
She stressed that digitalisation would improve transparency and accountability.
“This system will ensure that our services reach the right people, in a timely manner, and with measurable impact. Digital tools are no longer optional, they are essential for empowerment and inclusion,” Sen Mutsvangwa said.
On the importance of supporting women-led initiatives, she added, “Our priority is to capacitate women, communities, and MSMEs through targeted funding, market access initiatives, and technical training. We want women to be at the centre of economic growth, governance, and innovation.”
The minister also underlined the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening Gender-Based Violence response systems, formalising informal sector actors, and promoting local production and food security among rural women.
“We are not just implementing programmes; we are changing lives. Digitalisation will allow us to monitor progress, report accurately, and deliver services efficiently,” she said.
Sen Mutsvangwa urged officials and development partners to embrace collaborative planning.
“Digitalisation is a tool to enhance governance, accountability, and impact. We must ensure that our programmes leave no woman or community behind,” she said.
The workshop, attended by Ministry officials, provincial coordinators, and development partners, will guide the Ministry’s strategic planning for the next five years.
“This workshop is where we define our future. We must plan boldly, act decisively, and remain rooted in the aspirations of our people, the women in agriculture and innovation, the youth with bright ideas, and the MSMEs driving local economies,” Minister Mutsvangwa said.
