Chronicle Editor
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
A total of ZiG43,3 million was disbursed to support women empowerment initiatives in the first-half of the year, as the Government steps up efforts towards gender equality.
This comes after the National Gender Policy was finalised, while the National Action Plan on gender equality was operationalised during the same period.
The plan is meant to safeguard women’s rights and gender equality in the context of peace and security.
In his 2024 Mid-term Budget and Economic Review Statement, Professor Mthuli Ncube said the disbursed funds included support to empowerment institutions such as the Women’s Development Fund (WDF), Zimbabwe Community Development Fund (ZCDF), the Zimbabwe Women Microfinance Bank (ZWMB) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO).
“During the first-half of 2024, SMEDCO disbursed US$347 200 to 65 MSME projects in various sectors which include manufacturing, agriculture, construction and trade.
“In the same vein, ZWMB disbursed loans amounting to US$6,7 million to 3 440 beneficiaries and of these 88 percent were women and 200 farmers were supported to acquire tractors at zero deposit under this loan facility,” he said.
He said ZCDF extended financial support in the form of loans and grants to community-based groups involved in various livelihood activities.
Prof Ncube said to address the lack of business managerial and technical skills among women, MSMEs and Co-operatives, the Government was upscaling the provision of business management, technical and entrepreneurship skills in partnership with other Government Departments, the private sector and development partners.
“These skills have enabled women and MSMEs to run their businesses viably, as well as contribute to employment creation and poverty reduction. In the first-half of 2024, a total of 72 783 participants (90 percent women) from MSMEs and Cooperatives were capacitated in various facets of business management and co-operative administration which include record keeping, finance, costing, marketing, standards and product certification and taxation, among many others,” he added.
The minister said the Government was also offering support through livelihood skills development initiatives which have been a powerful vehicle for empowering individuals, particularly in marginalised communities to take advantage of the emerging livelihood and business opportunities, thereby becoming self-sufficient and also creating employment.
He said a total of 55 193 community members were trained in the first-half of the year in Internal Savings and Lending Schemes (ISALs) and Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs).
Others were also trained in detergent and cosmetic making (petroleum jelly and perfume making), garment making, small livestock production (poultry and rabbit production), cake making and confectionery, bee keeping and mushroom production.
“The beneficiaries included people living with disabilities, war veterans, widows, the elderly, youths, as well as child or single-parent-headed families especially from marginalised communities,” said Prof Ncube.
Prof Ncube said the Government continues to support women, communities, cooperatives and MSMEs to access markets through linkages and exposing products to markets through their participation at local, regional and international trade fairs, shows and expos. He said such support strengthens local supply chains and increases the sectors’ contribution to exports.
Since January 2024, the minister said 8 307 participants (1 069 male, 7 239 female) from MSMEs and Co-operatives were facilitated to access local and international markets.
“These include the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania Agricultural Shows, local exhibitions in Districts and Provinces, Open Market Days and the Ministry’s United Nations (UN) calendar event commemorations,” he said.
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