tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
GOVERNMENT has launched Women Empowerment Clubs at the National Handicraft Centre to create a platform for women entrepreneurs to access funding for their projects.
The initiative is being funded by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO).
Through the clubs, women will be provided with safe marketplaces and capacity-building programmes on how to run their businesses.
The clubs also create a direct channel through which women can formalise their projects and graduate to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCOs) and cooperatives.
Falling under the purview of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, the initiative is being run under the theme “Creating a Platform to Promote Income-Generating and Socio-Economic Development”.
Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Minister Dr Sithembiso Nyoni said: “The Women Empowerment Clubs programme will go a long way in contributing towards the implementation of the National Development Strategy 1, which is centred on leaving no one and place behind.”
The Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank (ZWMB), which is a partner in the programme, is also providing support to the initiative.
Some of the clubs that were present at the launch included Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service’s Phakhamani Simukai, Favours Empowerment for Women from Highfield and Jurani Firi Santa (JFS) Chitungwiza, among others.
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter