Chronicle Editor
Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]
MORE than 150 000 women were capacitated with life changing entrepreneurial skills and linked to various funding platforms, a development that entrenched women’s economic empowerment drive.
The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprises Development led by Dr Sithembiso Nyoni rolled our training programmes ranging from piggery, poultry production, detergents making, petroleum jelly production, and equipped them in financial literacy, business skills, In its 2022 annual report, the Ministry of Women Affairs Community, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development said the capacity building initiatives were conducted by the ministry together with the Zimbabwe Women Micro Finance Bank.
“153 000 women were capacitated by the ministry and the Zimbabwe Women’s Bank in piggery, financial literacy, business skills, and poultry production; detergents making; petroleum jelly production; beverages making; floor polish making, food processing, sanitizers production, amongst others,” reads part of the report.
“The department trained 4 000 women while the bank managed to train 149 000 women.”
In the period under review, a total number of 8 787 women projects worth $838 million were funded in 2022.
“The women’s projects were funded through the Women Development Fund and Zimbabwe Women’s Bank. The Women Development Fund funded 240 projects worth $297 million. A total of 1 440 women directly benefitted with 720 jobs created and 1 100 jobs sustained.
“The Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank (ZWMB) funded 8 547 projects worth $541 million. A total of 13 481 jobs were created and 17 975 jobs were sustained. Funded projects were in poultry, baking, fishing, maize milling, livestock production, protective clothing, horticulture and goat keeping.”
The ministry also revealed that in the period under review, 1 100 women’s clubs were established with over 5 000 members capacitated and linked to funding.
“This programme aims to empower women at the grassroots level and promote income-generating activities in order to improve livelihoods and alleviate poverty,” said the ministry.
“Trainings were conducted in various areas which include leadership, detergent making, business skills, financial literacy, poultry, and health issues, amongst others.”
The ministry has different funding initiatives for women-led businesses, which include Zimbabwe Women’s Bank, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO) and Community Development Fund, which are meant to fund small and medium enterprises as well as women-led businesses.
The ministry also works with different private and public stakeholders who also provide funding for different projects which concern women and SMEs.
This has seen the ministry facilitate the establishment of the Women Gold Milling Service Centre in Guruve District, Mashonaland Central. — @SikhulelekelaniM1
Online Reporter