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Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
GOVERNMENT has applauded a local development partner for empowering adolescents and caregivers in Mutasa District with tools and skills to help them combat gender-based violence (GBV).
Speaking during a handover ceremony of business start-up kits from Family Aids Caring Trust (FACT) Zimbabwe to 90 adolescents and caregivers at Hauna Airstrip this afternoon, Mutasa District Development Coordinator, Mrs Caroline Mudawariwa said while the move helps in fighting dependency syndrome which in most cases leads to GBV, it is a lifetime opportunity that will also help beneficiaries to financially capacitate themselves and positively contribute to the country’s economy.
“It is a lifetime opportunity awarded to the adolescents and their caregivers that will enable them to work hard for the betterment of their lives and communities as enshrined in the country’s economic blueprint, National Development Strategy (NDS1) as we all strive to achieve Vision 2030,” she said.
The primary beneficiaries were between the ages of 15 and 17.
The business kits are meant to help financially kick-start the teenagers’ small to medium businesses, according to FACT Zimbabwe Executive Director, Mrs Getrude Shumba.
Each kit is worth US$150.
“The start-up kits have been made possible through the Household Economic Strengthening programme because strengthening a community’s economy starts from the grassroots, which is the household.
“We saw it fit to capacitate adolescents and caregivers as the Children Tariro Project is coming to an end after operating for seven years,” she said.
The project was funded by USAID and PEPFAR.
In an interview, Mrs Shumba said the organisation trained the teenagers on bakery, hairdressing, clothing technology, poultry, welding and building courses on a 90-day training marathon.
Mutasa District Development Officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Mrs Sheila Mtetwa said the support will go a long way in combating GBV within the Mutasa community since the relationship between livelihoods and GBV is invisible.
She said the 14 to 59 age group is the most affected by GBV in the district and that capacitating the adolescents will help greatly in fighting the menace.
“There is no development that happens when there is GBV. Livelihoods help in combating GBV and we thank FACT Zimbabwe for equipping our children with skills and capital to kick-start their businesses so that they get stable livelihoods.
“The 14 to 59 age group is the most affected because they are mainly dependent on other people. However, with these starter packs, they will start their businesses and be able to support themselves financially. They will no longer be dependent on men,” she said.
Mrs Mtetwa also encouraged women and young people to take advantage of the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank and apply for affordable loans to further finance their businesses.
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