Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter
WOMEN continue to struggle to access business loans despite owning around 56 percent of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
This came out on Wednesday during a gender sensitisation workshop that was hosted by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development in collaboration with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa).
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Advisory Council vice chairperson Mrs Teverai Chigogo Nhapi said the Small and Medium Development Corporation (SMEDCO) is not doing enough to cater for new businesses that are run by women.
“A lot of women are facing challenges when borrowing money from SMEDCO, as they are expected to raise 15 percent of the money being offered,” she said.
“The maximum they are offering is $15 million.”
Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development chief director Mrs Lilian Matsika-Takaendisa said Government is currently reviewing its gender policy, as well as the broad-based Women Economic Empowerment Framework.
“In order for the ministry to carry out effective gender mainstreaming, we are making use of sector-specific gender-disaggregated data that gives evidence on gender discriminatory laws, policies, institutional setups, practices, societal norms and beliefs that predispose women to low societal status and vulnerable positions in every walk of life when compared to men,” she said.
Zimbabwe has also ratified and adopted a number of international and regional instruments that promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Research has shown that women are relatively less susceptible to corruption, more responsible and tend to use whatever resources they have for the benefit of the families.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter